ORANGE — The 26th Celebrate the Harvest will happen this year, rain or shine, but it could be the event’s last day in the sun, and organizers are seeking volunteers to keep the annual festival alive.
Celebrate the Harvest, an annual autumn parade, car show and craft fair, will be on Sunday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orange Airport off East River Street.
Following two years of rain, organizers are praying for sunshine and, if the weather is nice, are expecting around 60 vendors — a dozen or so are food vendors — and as many as 500 cars in the North Quabbin Cruisers car show and floats, with bands and politicians in the parade starting at 1 p.m.
Despite being a daytime event, the theme this year is “Festival of Lights,” which was chosen by the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School’s sixth-graders, and the parade floats should be a lively display of colors, according to organizer Rick Kwiatkowski.
But while there’s excitement for this year’s “wonderful event,” Kwiatkowski said, the festival has become taxing for the small group of organizers, who get the required permits and approval, invite participants, make arrangements for the necessary parking signs, portable toilets and trash barrels — and, for the first time this year, an ATM.
“We have a small core group of individuals that are struggling just like any other organization, and each year it becomes more and more difficult to hold on to an organization and hold on to an event,” Kwiatkowski said.
The organizers meet once a month, and then more frequently as the event draws nearer, and Kwiatkowski said he hopes other people join the crew or take on the event themselves.
“We do need people to help. It’s been gracious that the Reynolds have continued on with the parade, the Cornwells have continued with everything that’s gone on with the car group, and Bob and Pam Harris and Karen,” Kwiatkowski said. “But, unfortunately, time is going to take its toll and we’re going to need to move on, and were going to need other people to consider taking this wonderful event on, or else it will die in the town.”
Kwiatkowski said organizers have considered ditching the event before, but decided to keep it going this year because the bad weather the last two years put a damper on the event. Even further back, too, the event was almost scrapped.
“That was threatened 16 years ago. That didn’t happen. We managed to keep it going, and 16 years later now I’m going to threaten it,” Kwiatkoski said. “So, we need to turn and change the scope, and we need volunteers and we need people or there will not be a 27th year of the Celebrate the Harvest.”
The event is important for local artisans and merchants, as well as local organizations like the Orange Historical Society that come to the event. It’s also a great fall festival for the public, Kwiatkowski said.
“I hope that maybe there are individuals out in the pub that might be interested in getting involved in some capacity,” Kwiatkowski said. “If there’s anyone out there that wants to take it on or become a part of this, please consider it.”
Those interested in volunteering may attend a meeting of the Orange Business Association, which is involved in organizing the event. The Orange Business Association meets on Mondays at 6 p.m. at the Workers Credit Union at 32 New Athol Road.