WILLIAMSBURG — Plans to mark the town’s 250th anniversary are coming into greater focus, but the planning committee is still looking for volunteers to assist with these milestone festivities.
The town’s semiquincentennial celebration was set to take place in 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lisa Bertoldi, 250th Anniversary Committee chair, said the celebration’s scale has been pared back from what was planned three years ago. A date hasn’t been set yet for Haydenville Day, but it will take place either July 2 or July 9. Celebrations in Williamsburg will consist of a small slate of events on July 16 and a parade July 17.
“The volunteer landscape has changed,” she said. “People with young families are very occupied with family activities.”
Bertoldi also theorized that the pandemic has taken energy away from people. Still, she praised the leadership for the anniversary effort and the support it has been receiving.
“It’s been thrilling to see the new energy that young people and newcomers to town are bringing to the table,” she said.
Two events that will be taking place are the outdoor streetside arts and crafts fair on July 16 and the fine arts competition and silent auction, which will take place July 16-17. Artisans wishing to participate in the arts and crafts fair, which is set to run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street, can purchase a 12-by-12-foot space for $10.
“They have to supply their own tents and tables,” said Trish LaFreniere, who is organizing both the fair and competition in conjunction with the 250th Anniversary Committee.
The venue welcomes handcrafted items such as pottery, paintings, collages, fiber arts, metalwork, jewelry, clay, stained glass, woodwork and the written word. Commercial vendors may not participate, LaFreniere said.
“We want things that are handmade, handcrafted,” she said.
The fine art competition and silent auction, meanwhile, will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Anne T. Dunphy School. One fine art item can be submitted for a fee of $10 if accepted into the competition.
The rules of the juried competition ask that the piece expresses the vision of “Williamsburg, Yesterday and Today” although this can be done in the medium of the artist’s choice. Entries will be part of a silent auction where 50% of the winning bid will go to the artist and 50% to a fundraiser for the 250th. A “Best In Show” award will be selected, as voted on by the public, entitling the winner to a plaque and $100.
“I’m hoping to see a wide range of people’s work,” LaFreniere said.
Those wishing to enter either the fair or the competition can email LaFreniere at paintitblue@comcast.net. Entries recently opened for both.
“Applications are already coming in,” LaFreniere said.
An ice cream social and town birthday party at the Williamsburg Grange is another event planned for July 16 although details have not yet been finalized.
“We are planning on doing it, and we’re pretty excited about it,” said Grange President Joy Moore.
Bertoldi said that the lineup of events for the anniversary is set to be finalized March 1, and that those who wish to volunteer or suggest an event can reach out to her at 413-268-7485.
The next meeting of the 250th Anniversary Committee will take place on Feb 10 at noon; it will likely be held at the Town Hall and over Zoom.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.