Two-day festival celebrates local history.
A celebration of Longmeadow’s role in colonial history returns to the Town Green this weekend. The 34th annual “Long Meddowe Days,” taking place Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, offers entertainment, education, food, music and fun for people of all ages.
The primary fundraiser for the Long Meadow Historical Society’s educational programs and the maintenance of the Storrs House, a town landmark, Long Meddowe Days offers many free activities for the whole family.
A major component of the event is the celebration of Longmeadow’s history. Visitors can see that history in action with the Civil War encampment by the 9th Massachusetts Battery throughout the weekend. The encampment will include rifle salutes, bugles, campfires and the firing of its ten-pound cannon every hour. In full battle dress, members of the encampment will make presentations about Longmeadow’s own Civil War hero, Lt. Howard Burnham, along with women’s experiences during the Civil War period.
Michael Gelinas, president of the Longmeadow Historical Society, said the educational aspect of Long Meddowe Days is growing.
“Our cemetery tours are going to be expanded,” Gelinas said. “At the Longmeadow Historical Society tent, we’ll have a new exhibit on the gravestones in the Old Burying Yard; there are some famous stones in the cemetery.”
Tours of the Storrs House will be offered both days at 1:00. Tours of the cemetery are at 2:00, and the history/architecture tour of the Green are at 3:00.
The Historical Society has added to its visual history display on the Green. It features information on Longmeadow residents killed in war, biographies and pictures, as well has how Longmeadow changed from a farming community to a suburb.
“That’s one of the purposes of Long Meddowe Days – so people know about the town and its past,” Gelinas said.
Dozens of vendors will be lining the Green, offering various high quality handmade arts and crafts for sale. Local organizations will have informational booths, and the food court will offer a variety of options.
On Saturday, the Tim Paige Memorial 5K Road Race/Walk kicks off the weekend, with a 7:30 a.m. start for walkers and an 8:00 start for runners.
Saturday evening is capped off by an old fashioned community campfire at 6 p.m. Grills will be available to use, and folks are invited to bring their own dinners.
There will be games and activities for children, including a climbing wall, a bounce house and a miniature train. The popular kids craft bazaar will return, and the annual parade kicks off at 11:15 a.m. at Bay Path College. It will travel south on Route 5 to the Town Green. Floats, bands and other performers are expected for the parade.
Following the parade on Sunday, at noontime, there will be a memorial service on the Town Green to commemorate Longmeadow residents who gave their lives for our country.
Organizers will be selling Longmeadow mugs this year at the event.
Gelinas said Long Meddowe Days is a true community effort, with volunteers from all over town offering their help.
“The high school Key Club provides hundreds of hours of volunteer time to help us,” Gelinas said. “They love doing it and we love having them.”
Long Meddowe Days runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information and a full schedule, visit www.longmeddowedays.org.