As it has gone on strong for the past 25 years, Celebrate Holliston, a huge fundraiser benefitting the town and promoting civic pride, will take place this year on September 17, with the parade kicking off at 9 a.m. and field day taking place at Goodwill Park from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (note the wrap-up is an hour earlier this year).
Volunteering for Celebrate Holliston “is a great way to give directly back to the town,” says Heather Scaringella, who working on the Celebrate Holliston Committee for her 9th year, and for the third year co-chairing the event with Neela Patel, Heather Scaringella (9th year) and Chris Leoncini. Volunteers are needed to lend a hand, man a booth, sell tickets, clean up, and other important tasks.
“You know that what you’re working on is going to be used in your own town for a really beneficial cause,” says Scaringella, who needs about 150 helpers, preferably aged 16 and older, to pull off the event, with 50 in the kids’ area alone. Volunteer forms are available at www.celebrateholliston.com, and volunteers can sign up for easily manageable 2-hour shifts. Volunteers “have a direct impact on improving our town. Sometimes when you give to organizations you really don’t know where your funds are going, but this just makes a difference,” says Scaringella.
Last year, Celebrate Holliston awarded eight grants, totaling about $7,000 to causes in town, including:
• HHS Class of 2016 All night graduation party
• Holliston in Bloom
• Holliston Parks and Recreation (for a new sign)
• Holliston Auxiliary Police (paid for AED)
• Habitat for Humanity Metrowest Worcester’s housing project in Holliston
• 8-Arch Bridge Preservation Committee
• Holliston Police Dept. their Rape Aggression and Defense program (RAD)
• Holliston Pantry Shelf
The whole thing takes a year to plan, says Scaringella. “As soon as we finish, we have a couple of weeks where we go over what worked, what didn’t,” but then it starts back up again. For that one day, she says, “It’s worth what you put into it.”
What’s going on?
The Parade
The parade will begin at 9 a.m. and will be meeting at the Placentino School, 235 Woodland between 8 and 8:30, says Scaringella. Anyone in Holliston is invited to make their own float for their company, neighborhood, organization, family or more. The woman to contact for information is someone the whole neighborhood sees each day as a crossing guard by Casey’s – Martha Ellis, affectionately known as the “Celebrate Holliston Parade Commissioner.”
“She’s a sweet woman who devotes everything to Celebrate Holliston,” says Scaringella.
Citizen of the Year
Celebrate Holliston bestows this distinguished, respected honor on one man and one woman each year who are nominated by town residents, who “stand out as selflessly contributing to make Holliston a better place.” Nominees must reside in Holliston, have not received the honor previously and have shown years of often unrecognized contribution to making the town better. Nomination forms are available at
www.celebrateholliston.com/citizen-of-the-year.html
Celebrate Holliston invites the community to join them in honoring the 2016 Citizens of the Year on Thursday, September 15, 5-7 p.m. at Jasper Hill Café & Bistro, for a reception with light refreshments and a cash bar. “This is held the Thursday prior to Celebrate Holliston,” says Scaringella. “We honor the current male and female citizen of the year, and we also recognize all previous Citizens of the Year.”
Field Day
“You can see on field day, the excitement the community demonstrates,” says Scaringella. “The vendors are excited, the people who attend are excited.”
Most of the entertainment was booked at the time of Local Town Pages Deadline, but the schedule was not yet finalized. What is happening, for sure, is the local band, Midlife Crisis, had confirmed that they would volunteer to play at field day for a couple of hours.
In addition, the annual Chili Contest, run by Lisa Zais and Stacey Raffi, will still take place, and the food tent will feature fresh burgers, dogs, and grilled chicken from the Superette, pizza from Bazel’s, fresh-baked desserts, cool beverages (or if it’s chilly, Hogan Bros. coffee).
Kids’ Activities
This year Celebrate Holliston is going to have a carnival theme with candy and traditional carnival games,” says Scaringella, “and we have four amazing inflatables, the bungee run, paw patrol combo, adrenaline rush obstacle course, and wrecking ball.”
For $12, kids can have unlimited access to kids’ crafts and inflatable rides, and carnival tickets to the games will be sold separately.
Horse Show, September 11,
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.,
Willow Brook Farm
For the third year, to benefit Celebrate Holliston, horseback riders and spectators are invited to Willow Brook Farm at 1070 Washington Street, Holliston for a horse show featuring English and Western classes. Pony rides will also be available, as will a professional photographer. For more information on entering the show, visit www.celebrateholliston.com. For a prize list and other information, contact Nancy Dubin at lilfolkfarm@verizon.net.
Sponsors Still Needed!
After September 1, limited sponsorship opportunities are still available for individuals and businesses who’d like to help support Celebrate Holliston. Booth and Sponsorship questions can be emailed to Theresa Lamkin at theresa448@verizon.net.
As of Local Town Pages deadline, major sponsors who had committed to this year’s event included:
Ahronian Landscape - PLATINUM
Middlesex Savings Bank - GOLD
Fletcher Tilton PC - GOLD
Fiske’s General Store - SILVER
Jason Green, Green Plumbing & Heating - SILVER
Harelick Dental Associates - SILVER
GLM Engineering Consultants - SILVER
Nick’s Central Garage - SILVER
Dr. Alkhoury, Simply Orthodontics - SILVER