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Date: 8/9/2023
WILBRAHAM — Games and contests? Food and crafts? Entertainment for the whole family? The Bushels of Fun Fest will offer all that on Sunday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Fern Valley Farms, 758 Main St.
The festival was conceived by Friends of Wilbraham Seniors as a fundraiser for the programs, services and furniture at the new senior center being built at 240R Springfield St., scheduled to open in spring 2024.
However, Friends of Wilbraham Seniors President Matthew Villamaino emphasized, “It’s not just a fundraiser. It’s a community event.” He said there was something for everyone at the event.
There will be several contests and raffles in which to participate, including a drawing for 500 lottery tickets. “Hopefully, someone scratches the right ticket,” Villamaino said. “They could become a millionaire right there.”
Three “sports sweepstakes” will be raffled off. The prizes vary from a Springfield Thunderbirds swag bag to an autographed Boston Bruins hockey puck from Brandon Carlo to a one-year family membership to the Scantic Valley YMCA Health and Fitness Center. All the drawings will take place at 6 p.m. There will also be a contest in which participants guess the number of apples in two full bushels, and the person whose guess is closest will take them home.
Four food vendors, including Batch Ice Cream and Fieldcrest Brewing will be at the event. A signature “apple maple cheesecake” dessert will also be available.
People can check out community groups, such as the Friends of the Library, the Wilbraham Welcome Project and the Scouts. The Mobile Veterans Center will be at the site and Director of Veterans Services Jered Sasen will be helping people sign up for programs and services.
The festival will feature tractor rides, photos with a 1930s fire engine, face painting, lawn games, standing yoga, a photo station and a visit from the Springfield Thunderbirds mascot Boomer. Two live bands — One Was Johnny and DRB — will entertain festival goers.
There are more than 25 vendors. Farmers will be selling produce and craft vendors will have their creations available. Because the event is taking place at Fern Valley Farms, a working apple orchard, the event will have an apple mascot named “Appleonia,” who will be on hand for selfies. A full schedule of events can be found on the events website at bushelsoffunfest.com.
“Fern Valley is almost like a hidden gem in town,” said committee member Deb Gormley. “They were wonderful to host it.”
The event is rain or shine, although there will be several sheltered areas. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or lawn chairs, while backpacks and coolers are prohibited. Bushels of Fun Fest Committee Co-Chair Maria Cacela pointed out that some vendors will be cash only.
“There’s something there if grandparents want to bring their grandkids or young families can come by themselves,” Committee member Brenda Willard said.
The committee organizing the Bushels of Fun Fest has 15 members and has been working on the event since January. Cacela said some of the sponsors — Fern Valley Farms, Twin Palm PC, Triumph Printing Company, Country Club of Wilbraham, Rice Fruit Farm, Landmark Realtors, Luso Federal Credit Union, Hunt Realty Associates, Evolve Bank and Trust Mortgage, Graziano Gardens, Reflections by Claudia, Village Store Cafe and Willard Financial Group — “have been with us from the beginning.”
As an initiative ahead of the festival, the committee has been selling T-shirts and raffle tickets since April. So far, over half of the 200 T-shirts printed have been sold, and the organizers have had to print more raffle tickets twice. More T-shirts and raffle tickets will be available on the day of the festival, as well as at the Aug. 19 Knights of Columbus car show at Fountain Park and at Stop and Shop on Boston Road in Springfield Aug. 12 and 19.
The organizers are looking for more volunteers for the day of the event. The committee estimates they will need about 36 people to help set up, staff and break down the festival. Interested people can apply on the event website.
The cost of event parking at Fern Valley Farms is a $5 donation. The organizers are offering special parking for those who need assistance. Cash and check donations will be accepted, and donation jars will be set up at stations around the event.
Whether people come to the festival for the entertainment and events or to support the senior center, Cacela urged, “Just come and have fun.”