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Date: 3/24/2021
LONGMEADOW – Long Meddowe Days, the fair that celebrates Longmeadow’s past and current community, has been a tradition for many local families but that tradition is coming to an end. The Longmeadow Historical Society (LHS), which has organized the annual event since 1980, will no longer put on the May fair.
“The mission of the Longmeadow Historical Society is to preserve our town’s history and inspire public awareness of the people, places, and events that have contributed to Longmeadow’s history,” reads the group’s mission statement. The LHS said in a statement to Reminder Publishing that, “We have come to feel like Long Meddowe Days no longer fits within this mission-driven purpose.”
Longmeadow residents had a variety of reactions to the news.
“I understand the historical society’s point. It was less about the town and its history and more of a craft fair with re-enactors as an afterthought,” said Lynn Katz.
“As a resident who grew up in town, grew up going to Long Meddowe Days, I’ve felt that the atmosphere of the event has changed dramatically over the years. It used to focus on crafts, artists, local organizations. Now, it feels like a mini Big E midway,” said Laurie Goldman Lewis.
The commercialization of Long Meddowe Days was a common concern from residents, including Erika Belezarian. “I was a vendor a few years ago with my small biz and 90 percent of the vendors were like Big E style or MLMs. Fair food and other crap. Not like it was growing up at all,” she said.
Another local small business owner said, “I have a small handmade, hand-painted wood sign company that I run out of my parents’ basement in Longmeadow and I grew up in town and I’ve been going to Long Meddowe Days since I was 5 years old. I’ll be 32 this year.
“I was a vendor two years ago and noticed how commercial it had become. I had two other local small business owners on either side of me and the one thing we noticed was that we were across from a commercial sock vendor, like someone who would be at the Big E. It was the most popular booth at the entire fair. The other vendors and I did OK, but the focus is no longer on small, local makers and instead on commercialized junk. The majority of the booths were MLMs,” she said, adding that if the old “feel” were brought back, it may fit the LHS’s mission once more.”
Kimberly Gross agreed, “It should be for local artisans. As a town resident that owns a face paint and henna business, I have to compete with multiple vendors from out of town selling the same products. This is sad as it will now get even more commercialized.”
Michael Sokol noted that without Long Meddowe Days, there will be fewer places for local vendors to sell. “The farmers market won’t allow any other vendors to attend than the one they already have.”
Amy Kimball said, “Even as an adult, I missed it so much this year. Yes, it has gotten more commercial but I think it is always a nice way to get our town out and about. What a great place for the kids to ride their bikes to and run around and have fun in a safe environment. I love the kids’ area where they can set up their own craft booths. It is also a great location for local schools and charities to advertise themselves.”
Henry Lanouette described the fair as a piece of “New England” and “Americana,” but Matt Sadosky said Long Meddowe Days needs a “fresh look”, feel and experience.
Jennifer Farrell Powell runs the Wilbraham Peach Blossom Festival, which was created after the former Peach Festival ended as it was deemed too expensive and volunteers were hard to come by. “Our new festival focuses [on], but is not limited to, locals and we love doing it but the lack of people putting some time into it to be a community-driven event is the issue. It’s a full-time job with no pay done for the benefit of the community,” She said and advised, “When you say ‘they should....’ try and think of who the ‘they’ are and perhaps offer your time and talent if it’s important to you. Then you will have a really nice local, unique event that you love.”
Despite their decision to step away from hosting the event, LHS said that they are willing to “share our decades of expertise,” with any community organization that wants to pick up the mantle. Some residents have already expressed an interest in volunteering to do so, including Mario Vega, who said he has helped organize the parade and fire on the Town Green and was sad to see the tradition end.
“Bring it back, but maybe the responsibility can be shared between the Historical Society and to still do the re-enactment and the tours, Longmeadow Park and Rec and maybe the school system run by the students and advisors at LHS – tie it into the curriculum, Key Club like always, music department to run the music, art department to bring back an art show, and the business department to help with the rentals. Add in a Farmer’s Market,” suggested Kimball. “I think a couple of food trucks are fine but the local groups – Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy (LYA), Boy Scouts, and other local vendors – should be prioritized and the food shouldn’t repeat too much, so everyone can do well. Kettle Corn is a must.”
The wood sign business owner had suggestions as well. “It’s time to go back to basics. Bring in the local churches who used to make tabouleh and sell watermelon slices, and the other local restaurants. No more big performances – have the kids at LHS from Lyrics and the concert band perform on the stage. But most of all, bring back the focus on local, handmade – no MLMs [multi-level marketers, such as Herbalife, Avon and Scentsy], no commercial vendors,” she said.
As for the LHS, their statement assured, “Our small, but dedicated volunteer board will continue to be focused on new and expanded programming that will share the wealth of materials in our archives and collections,” including, “community outreach and collaborations with the Storrs Library and the Longmeadow Adult Center through our expanded virtual lecture series and in-person programming as soon as the quarantine restrictions allow us to do it safely.” The LHS has upcoming programming on census records and immigration, the Woman’s Suffrage Movement, and slavery in Longmeadow. “With a town so rich in history, we have much work to do and we are excited to have expanded opportunities to do it.”
For more information or to support the Longmeadow Historical Society, visit https://www.longmeadowhistoricalsociety.org or email LongmeadowHS@gmail.com. The group can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/longmeadowhistoricalsociety.