Almost two years after applying for a Making It Public grant through the New England Foundation for the Arts, the town will host a lighted boat parade at the Ashfield Town Beach & Park on Buckland Road.
The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, with a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 13. While the boats will hit the water at 7:30 p.m., pre-boat show activities will start at 6 p.m. These include performances from Double Edge Theatre, a performance by the Ashfield Community Band starting at 6:30 p.m. and a juggling show from 6 to 7 p.m.
Also on the beach before the parade will be members of No Loose Braids, a Nipmuc-led organization that works to “bring Eastern Woodland Tribal communities together in unity through cultural revitalization of traditional practices,” according to its website. In May, members of the group started the process of creating a mishoon at Ashfield’s Belding Memorial Park, which will lead the boat parade. Before the boats hit the water, members of the organization will share information on making mishoons and their continued work.
“In thinking about putting on a public art event that really celebrates community and this natural landscape that we so much enjoy here in Ashfield,” Town Clerk Alexis Fedorjaczenko said, “we felt it was appropriate to honor the Indigenous folks who have been on this land for a very long time. I’ve been fortunate through this process to learn about the process of creating a mishoon.”
As for the rest of the parade, Fedorjaczenko said that while all the boats are unique, a common through line is a connection to the natural world. She added that two boats have “beacon” in the title. However, she emphasized that each one offers an artistic creation. Examples of features that will be on boats participating in the parade include a 14-foot model of Ashfield’s Town Hall steeple, a mechanical frog sculpture with legs that appear to swim and a 20-foot water dragon.
She added that some boats will have musical elements, with both recorded and live music being part of some designs.
“They are going to be very different in nature,” Fedorjaczenko said, referencing the two boats with “beacon” in the title. “I think that kind of highlights how there’s commonalities, and yet, every one is so individual because these really are artistic creations that are beyond stringing lights on a boat.”
This event is free to attend, and refreshments can be purchased from the Ashfield Lake House, which, in addition to its regular menu, will also sell hamburgers, hot dogs and chips during the event. Wicked Good Cafe, while not on site, will also be open at that time.
“We’re also going to have some of the boats … at the Lake House beach before the event,” Fedorjaczenko noted. “It’s a tricky process to stage … arts boats into the lake in one afternoon. We’re starting early, and we’re going to have some of the boats start earlier in the afternoon and float over to the Lake House, where they can then just kind of hang out and talk to people. … There will be a lot to do [for] people [that] come before 7:30. “
During the parade, Fedorjaczenko said it would be a good idea for people to bring blankets or low beach chairs for those who are planning to sit at the shoreline. Those who are comfortable standing are advised to stand in the back to not block the view of others.
“It’s hard to gauge attendance for an event that’s not ticketed and that we’ve never done before, but I keep hearing there’s a lot of buzz,” Fedorjaczenko said.
Free parking is available at the old Sanderson Field and accessible parking is available on Buckland Road next to the tennis courts. The beach parking lot will be closed.
For more information, visit ashfield.org/2438/Lighted-Boat-Parade.
