MaynardFest 2021--a Roaring Success!

Photo courtesy of Linda Thayer

The weather was absolutely perfect for MaynardFest this year. Between that and our inability to get together last year, I think everyone who showed up downtown was feeling an abundance of joy.

I had taken a break from posting because without being able to connect with people--without community--I really struggled. But lately there have been many pockets of goodness for me to want to write about more recently: the securing of a location in Maynard for the Food Co-op, all the outdoor dining, the new and varied trees installed by the Maynard TreeCorps, the new mural supported by the Maynard Cultural District, Eriksons (because Eriksons!), The Maynard Sesquicentennial events (including that wonderful parade and the fireworks display sponsored by Green Star Herbals), the possibility of a purchase of the Fine Arts Theatre, and so many more. All of these have been such food for the soul after the COVID-ful 2020 the world experienced (and continues to experience). But for true celebratory community feel for me, MaynardFest took the cake!

As usual, the Chamber of Commerce did a great job pulling together vendors. I heard of only one complaint about a balloon vendor that I'm sure will get handled, but other than that, it just seemed like everyone was having a wonderful time.

My family started with breakfast at the Boston Bean. I have some mobility issues, so after eating, I had to decide if I had the energy to walk the Fest. Once we stepped out, we couldn't help but join the flow of people moving down Main and Nason Streets; it was just too much fun to resist. My twelve-year-old said something like, "I love MaynardFest because I can recognize all the people I've met over the years and don't get to see very often." So true. You'd have thought she was an adult because she marveled at how much kids with whom she had gone to preschool had grown. It was even better when she observed, "We can't go ten feet without talking to people! Make that four feet!" I know from talking to others that we certainly weren't the only ones having that experience.

We loved being out there with all of you. If you didn't make it, I'm so sorry we missed you. Let's hope for an equally delightful MaynardFest 2022!