WHATELY — After missing its official 250th birthday celebration due to COVID-19 concerns in 2021, the town is finally ready to don its birthday hat, as it invites residents to enjoy 10 days of events.
The town was able to hold a birthday parade on April 24, 2021, which marked the official incorporation date of the town, but the full schedule of events — minus the lighting of a giant birthday cake in August — were postponed until 2022.
“Now that it is finally here, I think I can speak for everyone that I can’t believe it because it’s been so long in the making,” said Susan Baron, co-chair of the 250th Anniversary Committee that began planning the celebration in 2018. “Having all that time to plan it, the pieces are really coming together neatly.”
Celebrations will kick off Friday from 5 p.m. to dusk, with cruise night and food from Tom’s Hot Dogs, and will be capped off by a 2-mile parade on June 26 at noon. Each day in between will feature a wide range of events, ranging from several live music performances to arts displays and a firemen’s muster.
“I think we’ve got everything we need,” said Fire Chief John Hannum, whose department is organizing the chicken barbecue, firemen’s muster and parade. “We’re trying to get ready and we’re getting there. Hopefully all these things come together.”
The June 26 parade will begin at the Whately Congregational Church on Chestnut Plain Road and end at the intersection of Christian Lane and Long Plain Road. Public parking will be available at the library, the Whately Center School, Quonquont field behind 33 Christian Lane, the Highway Garage and the Yankee Candle facility on Christian Lane. Shuttle buses will also run before and after the parade from Whately Elementary School.
Hannum said families will love the firemen’s muster, which will feature Whately firefighters using a 1927 fire truck as they complete several challenges requiring them to quickly set up hoses and spray targets. Additionally, during a Family Fun Day on June 25, he said there will be a mini firemen’s muster for children.
“It seems simple, but it’s not that simple,” he said. “(Kids) will see those trucks come out there and it’s like, ‘Wow.’ … We’ll have food there, we’ll sell beer there.”
Baron said tickets for events like the chicken barbecue have been selling well.
“I think town excitement is very high,” Baron said. “I sense that this is a great way of having to let off all that pent-up steam of being indoors for two years.”
Of all the events throughout the celebration, Baron highlighted the June 20 dedication of the town gift and the burying of a time capsule for future generations.
“We’re giving future residents a gift from current residents,” Baron said. “We have a lot of a fun events … but it’s the one thing that we are doing that will be lasting. It’s not just about having a party and it’ll be done; we’re doing something for the people that come after us.”
■Friday, June 17 — Cruise Night with the Lonesome Brothers and food from Tom’s Hot Dogs at 61 State Road.
■Saturday, June 18 — Tractor parade at 10 a.m., steam engine show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 33 Christian Lane and Polka Night from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Fire Station.
■Sunday, June 19 — Ecumenical service and Juneteenth celebration at Whately Congregational Church at 11 a.m., firemen’s muster from 1 to 4 p.m. at Herlihy Field and the Historical Society lecture called “A Canterbury Tale of Whately’s Evolving Natural and Human Landscape” at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
■Monday, June 20 — Dedication of town gifts, burying of the time capsule and music from The Bad News Jazz Band at the library at 6 p.m.
■Tuesday, June 21 — Art show and quilt dedication at Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
■Wednesday, June 22 — Watermelon Wednesdays concert with Zara Bode’s Li’l Big Band at Town Hall at 7 p.m.
■Thursday, June 23 — Concert with Poor Monroe at Town Hall at 7 p.m.
■Friday, June 24 — Chicken barbecue featuring TJ and the Peepers at the Fire Station field from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and fireworks at the library at 8:45 p.m.
■Saturday, June 25 — Family Fun Day with TJ and the Peepers at Herlihy Field from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■Sunday, June 26 — Parade at noon.
■Ongoing — Historical Commission’s self-guided “Hidden History” tour and the Historical Society’s exhibit, “Becoming Whately: A History in Objects”
Details about events and tickets (while available) can be found at whately250.com. Those wishing to volunteer to help the 250th Anniversary Committee can email whately250@gmail.com.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.