WILLIAMSBURG – Celebrations for Williamsburg’s 250th anniversary are coming into focus with three days of activities slated for the weekend of July 15-17 – including a parade that will feature Linwood Clark as its grand marshal. The event will not, however, include a Haydenville Day as previously planned.
“The committee is working daily to make this an excellent and carefully constructed event,” said Lisa Bertoldi, chairwoman of the 250th Anniversary Committee.
The celebration was set to take place in 2021, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Festivities will kick off on July 15 with a hot dog grill on the steps of Florence Bank from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m, put on by the institution. That evening, fireworks will be set off, beginning at 9 p.m.
The celebration will continue on July 16 with a festival. The festival will include a craft fair starting a 9 a.m. in the Anne T. Dunphy School parking lot, an ice cream social at the Williamsburg Grange beginning at 1:30 p.m., the Friends of the Meekins Library Book Sale starting at 10 a.m., live music at Burgy Brews beginning at 11 a.m. and food trucks in the Anne T. Dunphy School parking lot.
There also will be activities for children that morning behind the school, including hula hooping, games and circus performances. Additionally, from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. there will be remarks from local people on the past, present and future of Williamsburg at the Anne T. Dunphy School.
The parade will take place on Route 9 on Sunday, starting in Haydenville and finishing in Williamsburg, although a start time has not yet been determined.
“It’s going to be quite wonderful,” Bertoldi said. “We’re going to be hosting local floats.”
Bertoldi said that the parade’s Grand Marshal, Linwood Clark, is known in town for his good humor as well as for hischeerful and funny hats, which he’s been known to wear staffing the transfer station on Saturday.
“He’s beloved by everyone in town,” Bertoldi said.
After the parade, the American Legion will be hosting a chicken barbecue at it headquarters in Haydenville.
“Many young people have been contacting me to participate in a deep way,” said Bertoldi, of the celebration. “It’s very gratifying to work on an event that truly brings the town together.”
An ecumenical church service also will be held in June as part of the celebrations, either on June 25 or June 26.
Although the town will not be hosting a Haydenville Day as part of the celebrations, as previously planned, Bertoldi said that the American Legion barbecue after the parade is looking to provide representation for Haydenville.
Bertoldi said that severe time constraints made it so the committee had to minimize the number of activities.
“Each committee member is stretched thin with the responsibilities at hand,” Bertoldi said.
Additionally, Bertoldi said that the committee is working hard to be as inclusive as possible with the celebration.
“Every person who lives here shares a deep commitment to the town,” she said.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.