Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Vision session reignites passion for Long Meddowe Days

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW The town of Longmeadow was challenged by the state of Massachusetts to "do something" for the bicentennial in 1976, according to Historical Society curator Linda Abrams. The result was the first-ever Long Meddowe Days.

Thirty-one years later, that celebration of New England life continues. It cannot continue, however, without the ideas and efforts of town residents.

An unofficial first meeting dubbed a "visioning session" took place Nov. 3 at the Longmeadow Community House to discuss the future of this yearly festivity.

"Dana Goldman recently retired as president of Long Meddowe Days, so we needed to think about the future," Mark Wojcik of the town's Historical Society said. He added the visioning session served not only as a time to gather ideas but also as a time to gauge interest from prospective volunteers.

Crawford Lincoln, president of the Historical Society, said the basics of the 2008 Long Meddowe Days were decided during the session. The dates for next year's festivities will be May 17 - 18.

"We will repeat the format and presentation of last year," Lincoln said, "but there will be a change. There will not be a Friday evening concert or a provision for picnicking on the green Friday night." The reason this was phased out was because "participation was very small," according to Lincoln.

The annual Tim Page Road Race will take place during the weekend, as will a parade, tours of the Storrs House and walking tours of Longmeadow architecture and cemeteries. Entertainment will be provided and local vendors will be able to showcase their crafts. Activities for children, like a climbing wall and pony rides, may be available. There will also be opportunities for community groups to be involved with those in attendance with booths on the green.

"There may also be military reenactments and demonstrations of old crafts, like barrel making," Lincoln said. "There will be a memorial service because this usually takes place the weekend before Memorial Day."

Abrams, who has been involved with Long Meddowe Days for over 20 years, said the first festival was "a raging success."

"We thought, 'Why don't we do something every year?'" she explained. "All the profits go to the Historical Society."

She stated that the visioning session served as a gathering for people who still want to be a part of the festival. "Right now, we're just taking a look at it. Is there anything we can improve or change?" she said.

Abrams deemed the meeting "a healthy session" and said "good ideas came out" of it. She added the goal of next year's Long Meddowe Days is to offer something for everyone.

"We have a considerable variety of things going on," Lincoln said. "We hope the people of Longmeadow respond as enthusiastically in 2008 as they have in the past."

Any person interested in volunteering should call the Historical Society with his or her name and number at 567-3600. Regular Long Meddowe Days planning meetings will begin in December, with the first taking place Dec. 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Storrs Library.