Hip Hip Norwood!!

September comes and the good times are over? Not here in Norwood! As Labor Day turns the corner for the approach of fall, Norwood residents are quite aware there is plenty more outdoor fun! It's a great scene to take in as downtown Norwood and the Town Common are transformed into a celebratory community festival filled with live, local entertainment, games, sporting events, kiddie rides, crafters, food bites from local restaurants, sidewalk sales, tables of businesses and non-profit groups sharing their services and town department displays.
The 16th Annual Norwood Day actually launches the evening before, Friday, September 7, with a fireworks display at the Coakley Middle School. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. and before the Norwood skies light up, however, the school field if filled with games the entire family will enjoy! This event has grown due to its popularity, and now offers two roaming trains, three inflatables (two slides and one obstacle course), and field games. Don't forget to bring your Norwood Day button!
On Saturday, September 8, at 9:30 a.m., a parade kicks off the spectacular main event, beginning at the Morrill Memorial Library with the marching bands and fall sports teams from Norwood High School proudly strutting their school colors and entertaining spectators. The parade will end at the town gazebo where the NHS Spirit Club will identify the King and Queen of the Court and the Ann Lydon Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented (the winner is a secret). The prestigious Award recognizes and honors a Norwood resident who has gone above and beyond to help the local community.
Immediately after the parade, the spectacular street carnival begins with approximately 200 booths of local retail merchants, community organizations, crafters, food vendors, sporting events, and much, much more. A stage at the Washington/Walpole Sts. intersection outside Conrad's will stand as a periphery anchor with local bands and dance groups performing throughout the day while the town gazebo lawn will serve as the second anchor with the Pizza Mile, a Mega-Brain inflatable and pony rides.
"It's great to see the community get together and see everything the Town has to offer," Recreation Director Travis Farley said.
Norwood is known for the Auto Mile, but the Pizza Mile is running a quick second! This event is to determine the best tasting pizza at Norwood Day. Local restaurants will be offering samples of their diverse menus in the Pizza Mile on the Town Common. Those restaurants include, Crushed Peppers (last year’s champ), Brunos Pizza, Victoria’s, and Giorgios.
The entire communal party will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for a great bargain of only $3 for a Norwood Day button ($5 the day of the event), entrance and participation is free to all events. Buttons can be purchased from any committee member or at the Civic Center, on Nahatan St.
According to Farley, Norwood Day still remains completely sell sufficient and comes at no costs to the Town. All expenditures are satisfied by corporation donations, sponsorships and Norwood Day buttons. To help keep costs down, however, and in full demonstration of a town that pulls together, Norwood High School sports teams do their part to contribute to the day's success. The freshman football team will help vendors set up in the morning and a few other groups will assist vendors to break down their booths at the end of the day.
Local business sponsors contribute greatly financially to make these combined events a success and also deserve recognition and future patronage from Norwood residents.
Norwood Day would also not be possible without the countless volunteers who donate their time throughout the day giving directions, selling buttons and ensuring a smooth schedule for all. Even non-Norwood residents offer assistance, especially the Encounter Church, in Westwood, where their volunteers will lend a vital helping had for the fireworks event.
Help is still needed and is welcome for any time frame; even an hour will allow another volunteer to experience the event. For more information, call the Civic Center at 781-762-0466.
According to Farley, Norwood Day attracts approximately 13,000-15,000 visitors from in around Norwood, and the fireworks on Friday night drawing 6,000-8,000 people. Many are from Norwood but word has gotten out about grand festival and residents from surrounding communities cannot resist supporting Norwood and joining in on the fun! Norwood Day has become a valuable opportunity for local organizations and merchants to meet their neighbors and celebrate the spirit of the town's communal and philanthropic ideas and values. Buy a button and join in the fun and celebrations!
"A big thank you to David Spiegel and we are looking forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks!” Farley said. “It is a great family fun event that the whole family can enjoy. Come out and see what the town has to offer.”
Norwood Day Buttons will help support activities and allow for free food tasting, kiddie rides, trolleys, rock climbing and racing. Cost of buttons before event are $3.00 each, ($5.00 day of event)
Parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Library, goes through town and ends at the Walter J. Dempsey gazebo.
Anyone who has visited Norwood Day can appreciate the amount of time and effort it takes to pull this successful celebration off. While there are many to acknowledge, a collective thank you is in order from those within Norwood’s inside jurisdiction for the following businesses and individuals. Without them, Norwood Day would not be possible.
The success of Norwood Day would not be possible without the continuous support from our business community who share our vision. A big Thank You to the Town Square Diner (who, every year, generously donates a hearty breakfast to start us off), the Norwood Bank, Chestnut Hill Realty, Dedham Savings, Gillooly Funeral Home, Republic Plumbing, Benchmark Senior Living Center, DCD Auto Holdings, and a HUGE thank you to David Spiegel for sponsoring the fireworks all himself!
We would also like to thank the Norwood Town Departments who always help on Norwood Day: Department of Public Works, Police Department, Fire Department, Light Department, School Department, Engineering Department, REACT, and the Recreation Department.
In addition, we would like to thank all those who helped make Norwood Day the great day it has become: Committee Members and Volunteers-Martha Colamaria, Bernie Cooper, Travis Farley, Katie Seastedt, Lee Kennedy, Linda Rau, Jean Taylor, Howard Weinstein, Mary and Mary Kate Taggart, Dorothy Prevoir, David Cantanaia, Marcia Motta, and the Freshmen Football Team who helped us to set up early in the morning.