Good morning neighbor!
I spoke with Beverly Ketch this week and she told me those mythical, legendary creatures of European folklore will once again invade Avenue A to bring fantasy and fun to the children and adults of the area.
Fairy House Day on Avenue A will be held Aug. 17.
Beverly said fairies, mermaids, pirates, butterflies and more will join children and adults in the downtown of my hometown, Turners Falls.
She said she, Hannah Brookman and Abby Rusk came up with the idea a couple of years ago, and they’ve been working on it ever since, including filming a pilot show that will premier during Fairy House Day.
“Last year, we had a lot of activities on Avenue A related to fairies,” she said. “This year, we’ll debut the pilot episode — twice.”
Beverly said they were able to do this with grants from the local cultural council and NCTV in Northampton.
Like last year, children will have the opportunity to build fairy houses to place in planters along Avenue A. There will also be a prettiest picnic contest and lots of other activities, but the main event seems to be the show, “Lovelight,” which will also include Mother Nature. It will take place in Peskeomskut Park in the evening and in the former Saint Anne’s Church next door to the park during the day.
“It’s going to be wild and crazy,” Beverly said.
She said they’ve extended the day into the evening this year, and luminaries will be set up in the park. The event will begin at noon.
“We want to make this as magical as possible,” she said.
Beverly said a few children will star in “Lovelight,” including a young, aspiring actress who is currently on tour with “Les Miserables” and has a role in the movie, “The Heights.”
“We’re even going to have glowing-light capes,” she said.
Events will start at noon in Spinner Park, where the Great Falls Discovery Center will have a craft area set up so that children can create fairy houses. Beverly said children can use the center’s supplies or bring their own, just like they did last year.
“It’s going to be a great time,” she said. “I hope many children and their families come.”
Fairy House Day on Avenue A, produced by the nonprofit Looky Here Inc., is appropriate for all children and their families, but Beverly said the evening events are geared more toward families, not small children, because they will probably have to go home to bed. She said that’s why they’re showing the pilot twice that day — they don’t want really young children to miss out.
The indoor screening of “Lovelight” will be held at 1 p.m. That will be followed by the Most Beautiful Picnic Contest — with prizes — plus a garden party in Peskeomskut Park at 2 and performances at 3 in the park. At 4 p.m., butterflies will be released, and at 6, Enchanted Evening begins. At 7, there will be live music followed at 8 by the outdoor screening of “Lovelight.”
Wouldn’t it be a dull world without fairies? Sounds like a lot of fun. Hope to see you there.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.