ORANGE — Outdoor dining is again coming to Riverfront Park, with the annual Dinner by the River scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 23.
The yearly event, which helps raise money for Orange parks and community projects, is set to begin at 5 p.m. with a social hour featuring wines by Home Fruit Wine as well as beer options, and an art show featuring the works of Robert Osborne and Susan Marshall. A buffet dinner featuring balsamic chicken, vegetable lasagna, scalloped potatoes, salad, rolls and strawberry shortcake will be served by Carr’s Affordable Catering at 6 p.m., and raffle winners will be announced at the conclusion of the event.
Live music will be provided by The Millers River Band, performing original, traditional and popular American roots songs.
“The event is a very special one in Orange. It’s the only alfresco shindig that I know of that features cloth napkins, tablecloths,” said band member Ann Reed. “It’s very special in Orange.”
The band formed in 1991 when two Ralph C. Mahar Regional School teachers, Gino LoRicco and Tom Jordan, approached Reed and her husband, Terry, about serving as the rhythm section and backup vocalists on a song. It reunited last year for its first riverside performance in 1993.
Ann plays drums while Terry plays bass guitar and harmonica, LoRicco is on banjo and Jordan is on guitar. All are singers. The Reeds’ daughter, award-winning theater professional Vivian Eliza Nichols, will also provide vocals and percussion this year.
“She’s not merely a guest performer — Vivian is our first, second-generation Millers River Band member,” Ann said. “We’re lucky to have her.”
Dinner by the River was first held in 2010 to mark Orange’s bicentennial and has become an annual tradition since then, though no event was held in 2020 due to the pandemic. The event is sponsored by the Orange Revitalization Partnership, which helps fund various community enhancement efforts. Dinner by the River typically raises $3,600 through the sale of 120 tickets.
Orange Revitalization Partnership President Denise Andrews said her favorite aspect of Dinner by the River is “the community coming together in a beautiful regional park to connect both with each other and with the setting, and to enjoy company and music in the setting.” She noted that attendees come from all over the North Quabbin region as well as Greenfield and Gardner.
“It’s an area — not an Orange — event,” Andrews said.
Dinner tickets cost $30 and are available for purchase at the Quabbin Harvest Food Co-op at 12 North Main St. or by calling Kate at 508-246-2361. Tickets must be purchased by Thursday, Aug. 21.
