In past years, volunteer actors staged a homegrown Robin Hood theatrical performance that ran throughout the popular Mutton and Mead Renaissance festival in Montague.
The fair is run by a group of area residents who hatched the idea around a campfire and built it into a popular ritual of early summer. And those organizers presented it as more than just fun period entertainment featuring jousting and Medieval-themed performances, music and food.
Because Mutton and Mead was billed in part as a charitable fundraiser, event-goers and a large group of volunteers came to see it as a Robin Hood story of its own — taking from fairgoers who could afford to pay the $10 to $15 admission fee and giving at least some of that to the poor through donations promised to charities including the Western Mass. Food Bank, the Montague Common Hall and the Jimmy Fund.
But when organizers faced questions from unhappy “Robin Hood” cast members about festival finances, organizers cancelled their performance and failed to demonstrate they lived up to their public pledge to donate a portion of the event’s proceeds to charities.
Pressed by Recorder reporter Lisa Spear this spring, the fair’s core organizers acknowledged that they had made only a modest donation after last year’s event. Further, government officials said — and the organizers acknowledged — that the fair had failed to register as a charitable group and file the financial disclosure forms required of such groups to justify their tax-free status.
Those disclosures, notably the federal 990 tax form, aren’t just bureaucratic paperwork. They detail a non-profit’s income and expenses — including pay for the group’s staff members — in a way that’s designed to ensure public accountability.
Mutton and Mead didn’t file those forms until recently, after the Recorder began asking questions first raised by the volunteer actors who were unable to get answers about where the fair’s income went.
Organizers admitted to communication breakdowns with the volunteers, neglecting to take care of government requirements and falling behind on making charitable donations. But they say those were honest mistakes by people who have no expertise in such matters and were doing their best to run the festival in their spare time.
That may well be, and we are happy to see that organizers have been working with the state
Attorney General’s Office to make things right. AG officials say it’s not uncommon for amateur event organizers to fall short in meeting the legal requirements.
Mutton and Mead organizers have refused to release their financial disclosure forms on their own, even though they are available through the AG’s office. We strongly encourage them to do so as a show of good faith to fairgoers, volunteers and the broader community.
Despite the loss of the “Robin Hood’ performances, the sixth annual fair “was truly wonderful this year,” said Pam Smith, one festival organizer. We have no doubt the thousands who thronged the Millers Falls Rod and Gun Club grounds would agree.
Festival-goers gnawed on turkey legs and ate ice cream as they watched belly dancer shows, listened to bagpipers and drummers, beheld giant elves and shopped for chainmail, leather goods and swords.
Despite the loss of Robin Hood and his merry band this year, the festival seemed as popular as ever. In coming years, the organizers say they might choose to reinstate the show and welcome back volunteer actors.
One of the things we love about Franklin County is the many community fairs and festivals that entertain us throughout the year. We want all those fairs to enjoy success and make money to pay their expenses — and to live up to their charitable pledges.
Mutton and Mead’s current turmoil should provide a lesson not only for its organizers but also for other private, nonprofits that want to stage public events.
We in the fair-going public appreciate you making our lives more entertaining, and our county someplace special. We will continue to support you with our donations, admissions, patronage and volunteerism.
But you must return that support by living up to the promises you make.