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Date: 9/6/2023
LONGMEADOW — The 2023 Long Meddowe Fall Festival is taking place at the Longmeadow Town Green on Saturday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hosted by the Longmeadow American Legion Post 175, the festival will kick off Saturday morning with a parade, which steps off from St Mary’s Church on Route 5 at 9:15 a.m., proceeds south to the Town Green and to the Veterans Memorial for a brief welcome. Activities will include the Roaming Railroad for children to ride, bounce houses and overnight scout camping on Saturday night. In addition, a car show for enthusiasts will take place on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with muscle cars, hot rods, sports cars, custom pickup trucks, motorcycles and exotics.
“This is our second year,” said Executive Director Julie Pearce. “More people know about the event and we’re hoping for a really good turnout this year.”
Long Meddowe Fall Festival Publicity Coordinator Henry Lanouette added, “I am thrilled by the enthusiastic participation and the growing list of companies that are joining us as sponsors. We are honored to have the support of notable sponsors like Century Center, United Rentals, and Big Y. Every contribution, no matter how small, plays a significant role in our success.”
The Long Meddowe Fall Festival is the carryover from what used to be referred to as Long Meddowe Days, a town festival that originated in 1973. The Longmeadow Historical Society hosted Long Meddowe Days from 1981 to 2021. The Longmeadow American Legion Post 175 was asked to organize the event and rebranded it into a new celebration of community spirit and heritage called the Long Meddowe Fall Festival.
Commander of American Legion Longmeadow Post 175 Earl Godfrey explained, “What used to be a fundraiser is now a community service. The festival is one of the American Legion Longmeadow Post 175’s ongoing community services.”
He went on to say, “As opposed to commercially oriented traveling businesses, we decided to focus on local crafters and emphasize the community booths, which is for any group supporting or promoting a cause or idea they believe is to the benefit of the larger community.”
One of the challenges the American Legion faced was there was no blueprint for what Long Meddowe Days had been or how it was set up because there was so much historical knowledge amongst all the people who had put it on. They had to reinvent the wheel while still trying to stick to what it was, the best that they could, to have that community spirit go on.
Pearce said, “We’re really trying to make a blueprint that the American Legion, or anyone stepping into that role from now until forever, will have that blueprint to follow, so that’s a huge goal for this year.”
The Legion has 16 community booths right now and part of their effort has been to get the town of Longmeadow itself, the local government, to come out. They could have as many as seven or so different town departments on the Green either in a booth or table. In addition to the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans group will be on site. There will be new businesses, who are just opening up in Longmeadow, such as Provisions and The Latest Kraez. The Legion will once again have the beer garden, featuring One Way Brewing and Fletcher’s BBQ. Several community organizations will be at the event, including the Montessori School, local scout troops, Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts, Willie Ross School for the Deaf, Ella’s Feline Rescue Mission, Friends of Fannie Stebbins and many others.
There will also be crafters with handmade items ranging from hand blown glass items to crocheted stuffed animals to dog accessories and everything in between. Additional sponsors are Bay Path University, Optimal Smiles, Michael Szwed Jewelers, Grove Real Estate, Management The Shops, Peoples Bank, the Mass Cultural Council, the Longmeadow Cultural Council and town residents like the Phil and Patti Vechiarelli Family.
Pearce said, “I’m a town resident and knew many people were very disappointed when the Historical Society couldn’t continue Long Meddowe Days, so being able to be a part of something that truly is aimed at bringing the community together is something I am very excited to be a part of.”
The Longmeadow Town Green is at the intersection of Route 5 (Longmeadow Street) and Williams Street. Some people can use the Community House address as a way to get there, which is 735 Longmeadow St. There will be no parking on the streets that surround the Town Green. Attendees can park on Williams Street, other side streets, and behind Storrs Library once the road race is complete in the morning on Saturday.
The car show on Sunday will be on the north end of the Green, opposite the Longmeadow Community House, and includes a $5 show car donation fee. This is a no-judging exhibition of local rides. Exhibition space limited to 100 vehicles; all years, makes, models foreign and domestic. Those who are interested can register in advance. For more information on the car show and entry form, visit www.facebook.com/LongMeddoweFallFestival.