Summary: The Mehla Shriners hosted their annual Feztival of Trees to raise funds for their charitable causes.
Trees were aglow in Springfield at the 2024 Feztival of Trees. As the name suggests, the festival was run by the Melha Shriners.
There were an array of different trees and wreaths to see.
The trees that lit up were fun to watch!
Visitors could enter a raffle for their favorite trees. And there were many to chose from!
Some of my favorite decorations were not traditional trees or not even trees at all like this “ladder tree” and some of the inflatable decorations.
The ornaments and decor were very festive and at times inspiring!
Some of the trees had themes. This tree had a bee theme.
This was a Halloween tree!
And there was this Irish/St Patrick’s Day tree!
One particular themed tree stood out. “Snacking Around the Christmas Tree” was decorated by Ed Lyons in memory of his wife of 49 years. A variety of snacks such as M&M’s, Lay’s potato chips and Frito’s (his wife especially liked chips) hung from the tree. Ed used to jokingly call them “stinky snacks” because of their strong odors!
The Ornament Lady was taking orders for handmade ornaments…unless you wanted a Yankees ornament!
Mr. and Mrs. Clause stopped by to make sure everyone was still on the “nice” list! But, don’t worry if you’re not on the list! You still have a few more weeks to get on the list!
All of the proceeds generated from the event went to the Mehla Shriners to assist with their charitable endeavors!
Parking: There are a limited amount of parking spaces (about 5 total spots)
Universally Accessible: Yes
Summary: Each year at Christmas time, the First Harbor Company anchors a lit up Christmas tree in Marblehead Harbor.
For some people Christmas season begins right after they finish their last serving of sweet potatoes. I know…yuck!
But for me, Christmas time starts when the First Harbor Company drops anchor on their Christmas tree dinghy in Marblehead Bay. The First Harbor Company makes a variety of hand made products such as wreaths, leashes and buoys. They also sell other products such as books and prints. The dinghy is owned by Tom and Samantha Peach. They decorate the tree and launch it from the launching area at the Little Harbor Company.
I planned my arrival early in the morning before the sunrise to get photos that would accentuate the lights on the tree. I loved how peaceful the water seemed.
I used the other boats and buoys in the harbor to give perspective and frame the photo.
As the sun began to rise, the colors made the landscape so pretty. The pink, black and blue colors in the clouds gave both a warming and ominous feeling.
During my previous visits, the lights on the tree usually went out shortly after the sun rise. But, during this visit the lights stayed on well past sunrise. Although, they do not stay on for most of the day light hours.
If you do plan on seeing the tree in all its splendor, keep in mind parking is limited and because there are trailers and boats sometimes parked near the parking area, it can be hard to find parking there. I parked on the side of the access road at the entrance to avoid being stuck in the narrow parking spots.
Summary: Performers entertained visitors with gravity defying acts, fire breathing and other jaw dropping tricks!
Fiery frights awaited all at this year’s Phantoms By Firelight event at Old Sturbridge Village.
An array of performers, dare devils and acrobats entertained countless visitors last month at Old Sturbridge Village.
Perhaps this event should have been titled, “don’t try this at home.”
The family friendly event included card tricks by Magnus The Magnificent.
There were also games like this World Scramble game. Can you guess the phrase hidden in this world scramble?
After all the fun and games, it was off to the Village Common to watch Alexander the Upside Down Man.
The feats of strength by Andrew were very impressive!
Whew! I got sore and tired just watching Alexander!
Next on the list of things I’ll never be able to do was the rope climbing extraordinaire Philomena.
But, before the show got started, the ring master got the crowd pumped up for the event!
After all that climbing, Philomena took a well deserved rest!
After the show, I was able to take a photo of the star of the show!
As the evening wore on and darkness fell upon the village, The performers kept everyone warm and entertained! Ignatius and Anastasia, aka the Masters Of The Flame, kept everyone enthralled with their fiery tricks! I liked the contrast of the agility and graceful of Philomena and the pure rock and roll daredevil action of Ignatius and Anastasia!
After that breath taking display, it was on to the Cyrkus Vampyr Finale Ultimo. As the name would seem to suggest, this was the finale of the evening.
This performance included some awesome acrobatics and more fun with fire!
There were also additional shows at the event. In the spirit of the Halloween season, there were some macabre events like this re-enactment and info session about wakes. This event was both respectful and informative.
There was a lot of differences from wakes during the early 1800s. For instance, during the early 1800s, which is the time frame Old Sturbridge Village is based, people didn’t take visitors for wakes. People’s wakes were very different. People mourned and reflected on their own. A casket with a mannequin represented how the people would mourn.
The lighting and decor added to the atmosphere of the event.
The performers at the event were not the only people who dressed up! Some of the visitors also wore costumes or other decorative items.
In addition to all of the performances, there was a Clues & Candy game where they had to collect stamps to complete a picture. The lucky ones who completed the tasks were rewarded with a treat pick up! There were also demonstrations of casket making, musicians and spooking story telling!
Despite all of the fire and death defying acrobats (or maybe because of it), the Phantoms By Firelight event was a big hit with both old young!
Location: College Highway, Southwick, MA (2 hours southwest of Boston, MA, 30 minutes northwest of Hartford, CT)
Cost: Free
Parking: Free parking was available at some of the local establishments including the shopping center on College Highway
Universally Accessible: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes
Summary: Horses, cows, dogs, chickens and even a few people marched in the 6th annual animal parade to raise funds for the Polverari-Southwick Animal Shelter.
Parades usually feature people as the main participants. However, the Farm Parade in Southwick, MA, is a little different. Animals were the main attraction at this parade. Officials projected that 75 to 100 animals of all kinds were expected at the parade.
The parade was free for all who came to watch. But, there was a $20 fee to enter the parade. The proceeds went to help the Polverari-Southwick Animal Shelter.
The Powder Mill School marching band provided the musical entertainment for the event.
Another big attraction of the parade were the tractors, cars and other modes of transportation in the parade.
Since the parade was just before Halloween, there were lots of people dressed up and some of the vehicles were also decorated for the season!
But, out of all of the vehicles in the parade, the ones posted below are my favorites.
What fun it must have been to ride around in your own mini tractor or vehicle.
The people who went to the parade weren’t left out of the fun! As you may have noticed in the photo above, some of the people on the vehicles threw candy and beads to the onlookers!
Although it wasn’t required, some of the visitors dressed up for the event!
The farm parade has been growing in size over the years and I look forward to seeing what the following years have in store!
Summary: The zombies took over Salem, MA, earlier this month!
Zombies of all shapes, sizes and ages gathered in Salem, MA, to feast upon some of the brains of the city folk. They originally planned to go to Washington, DC. But, they would have gone hungry.
All of the zombies, monsters and other ghouls met up at Salem Commons for some photo opportunities. From prom queens to fear leaders, the costumes were as creative as they were scary!
Some of the zombies got tired even before the walk began.
Eventually, the zombies lumbered their way through downtown Salem. Over the years, the walk has really grown in popularity. hundreds if not thousands of people lined the streets, many of them recording the walkers on their cellphones. And the zombies didn’t disappoint. They moaned, leaned into the cameras and shuffled their way through the streets. I love how they get into the spirit of the event!
In some of the photos, you may notice the participants were given buttons that state “I Survived the Zombie Walk!”…or did they? We may never know.
Despite all the moaning, shrieking and close calls with the zombies, the city survived the zombie walk just fine. This time.
The zombie in the video below usually brings his laboratory experiment with him each year!
It’s official! Spooky season has come to Salem, MA!
To usher in the Halloween season, Salem, MA, recently held their 42nd Haunted Happenings Grand Parade! But, even before the parade began, there was plenty to photograph. The sun set just as the parade was getting underway providing some beautiful photo opportunities.
It wasn’t just the parade marchers who got dressed up for the event! These spectators were also dressed up!
A variety of aliens, dinosaurs, pirates and an assortment of other ghoulish characters marched or drove in the festive event!
The theme of the parade this year was “Our Time On Earth.” and some parade floats had decoration reflecting this theme.
Parade participants spend a lot of time and effort preparing their floats for the parade. Some of these floats and vehicles were weeks or months in the making. These vehicles and floats of all kinds, some with interesting passengers, were decorated for the event.
But, not all of the participants were in vehicles or floats. Some of the characters walked or used other modes of transportation to get around.
You may have noticed some Halloween pails in some of the photos. During the parade, some of the people marching in the parade would pass out candy or just give high fives!
As if all that wasn’t enough below is some video from the parade!
Location: Salem Commons , North Washington Square, Salem, MA (35 minutes northeast of Boston, MA)
Cost: Free
Dog Friendly: Yes
Universally Accessible: Yes
Summary: Salem Commons transformed into the days of the 1920s for a very special event.
It was a swinging good time last weekend at Salem Commons.
For the past 6 years, the Salem community Neighborhood Association has hosted the Vintage Lawn Party. The party included dancing, antique cars, music and vendors selling all things vintage.
On my way to the event, I noticed this sky writer. Only in Salem!
While dressing up for the event is not required, it is encouraged and appreciated! Many people came dressed up in their best vintage wear! In fact, it seems like each year more guests decide to don their best attire. I used some special settings such as black and white and sepia to give some of the photos an old timey feel.
Annie and the Fur Traders kept the people dancing with their swinging sounds.
And, of course, there was dancing.
If dancing isn’t your thing, there were some cool cars to check out. In previous years, there was only one or two cars at the party. But, over time as word about the party spread, more and more cars began to show up. I love the curves, shape and sleekness of the cars.
This 1966 Excalibur has a special connection to Salem. It was the very same car used in the Bewitched episodes filmed in Salem, MA. The owner of the vehicle, “Sid” posed with his car.
Below is a photo of the very same car from the Bewitched episode filmed in 1970.
There were also lawn games for everyone to enjoy. Although it may seem like a new sensation, cornhole has existed since the 1880s in different forms.
Croquet, another game that has been around since the 1800s, was also a popular game played by both the young and old.
This 5 year old is quite the croquet prodigy.
There were a number of merchants selling everything from clothing, art ceramics and everything in between.
After a long day of partying and dancing, this pooch was all partied out!
Summary: 100 elephants were placed along the Cliff Walk in Newport, RI.
The elephants have come to Rhode Island.
No, these isn’t a tagline for the next Hollywood blockbuster. The Great Elephant Migration was a display of 100 elephants made from lantana, a plant common in the southern and northeast part of India. It’s truly incredible to think the artists could make such incredible artistic renderings of elephants.
The 100 Indian elephants, which have since been transported to New York City, were displayed at 3 locations along the Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island; The Breaker’s Mansions, Salve Regina University, Doris Duke/Rough Point Mansion and there was a solitary elephant on display a little farther away from the Cliff Walk at the Great Friend’s Meeting House at 21 Farewell Street, Newport, RI, which is posted below.
The elephants were made in the shape of actual elephants. The herd consists of replicas of real-life elephants personally known to The Coexistence Collective. The Coexistence Collective is a community of around 200 artisans in southern India who made them. And, most of the elephants had names and, in some instance a matriarch twin. For instance, Sarah, the Duchess of York, is the matriarchal twin of Mayflower, who had a darker shade than most other elephants because she is a darker shade in real life.
It took 6 to 7 years for the artists to complete each elephant. So, a lot of care was taken to get all of the details right for each elephant.
The first place I visited to photograph the displays was The Breaker’s Mansion. It is a beautiful mansion inside and out. There were 28 elephants at this location. Initially, I was going to photograph every elephant and include their name for each of them. However, that seemed like pure drudgery and not necessarily much fun for people to look at. So I scrapped that idea. I did, however, photograph all of the elephants. Very often, I think I shouldn’t photograph something. Then, after looking at it a second time, I am glad I did. That is one thing I’ve learned from taking so many photographs. There are no shortcuts and you really shouldn’t always go with your gut instinct. Something that looks like a dull or “mid” photo can actually look very nice after a second look.
The elephants were on sale! The sales would go to raise funds for the 22 conservation organizations around the country. The prices ranged from $8,000 for a baby elephant to $22,000 for the largest tusked elephant. I heard from a volunteer that almost all have already been sold.
I particularly liked how they kept the parents and babies together in some of the displays.
They also seemed to show the elephants smiling or possibly talking. As though they were happy to be there.
I couldn’t help myself from taking a few photos of the architecture and art at The Breaker’s. I hope to get more photos another time when I go on a tour.
I made several trips to the exhibits, particularly the elephant display at Salve Regina University because it was easily accessible off the Cliff Walk. My favorite photos were from when I visited just after sunrise. I particularly liked how the sun shone on the elephants. Plus, there were less people there to get in the way of the photos. And, that was the most difficult part of the photo shoot. It was a very popular display and some of the elephants were located at mansions that didn’t open until 10 am. So it was almost impossible to photograph those elephants without people being there. I noticed in many of my photos some of the elephants had a few extra legs and feet. And human at that!
However, my favorite place to photograph the elephants was at The Doris Duje Estate (aka Rough Point). The wide open lawn and scenic background was very pretty. It almost made you feel like you were in India photographing them. Well, sort of.
Elephants weren’t the only animals on display at the Rough Point Mansion. Flowery depictions of Princess and Baby were also on display on the front lawn. Princess and Baby were Doris Duke’s pet camels.
The displays at Salve Regina University were pet friendly. Fiona a 4 year old mixed breed, got in the shade under this elephant.
As I mentioned above, the elephants are now in New York City. They will eventually go on to Miami South Beach, the Buffalo Pastures in Browning, Montana, and Los Angeles.
Summary: For the past 2 years, Facone has been holding dancing events along the Greenway.
They were dancing on the Greenway this summer. Specifically, the Dancing on the Greenway, a series of dancing events along the Rose Kennedy Greenway, took center stage every Tuesday during the summer months.
The event attracted dancers of all capabilities and a few curious onlookers.
The best part of the event was watching everyone just having fun. It didn’t matter if they were good dancers, not so good or somewhere in the middle.
Each dancing event featured a different type of dancing. The theme of the dancing event during my visit was Scottish Ceilidh. Pronounced as kay-lee, Ceilidh is a gaelic word meaning gathering or party. And the dance event seemed more like a gathering and party. While technique and style were a bonus, it was really all about having fun and learning about this Scottish Ceilidh dance genre. A dance instructor and experienced Scottish dancers helped lead the dancers during this event.
Some of the music for these dance events the summer were recordings played on a sound system. But, I made sure to stop by while there was a live band performing. Susie Petrov, Stephen Thomforde and Marnen Laibow-Koser provided the music for the event I attended.
AS darkness fell upon the Greenway, the lights of the city lit up the dance area.
In yet another sign that summer is indeed winding down, the final Dancing on the Greenway event is Tuesday, August 27. But, they may be back again next year! So, don’t forget to stop by next summer! Just don’t forget to bring your dance shoes!
Location: Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA (1 hour and 30 minutes southwest of Boston, MA)
Hours: Hours and days of operation vary depending on the time of the year
Cost: $30 for adults, $28 for seniors (age 55+), and $15 for youth (ages 4-17). There is a $3 discount if you purchase tickets online. Military families also receive discounts.
Parking: Free parking is provided at the village
Summary: Hundreds of historical reenactors gathered at Old Sturbridge Village to recreate the Revolutionary War era.
The largest military re-enactment in New England, Redcoats and Rebels, made its annual appearance at Old Sturbridge Village earlier this month. From cooking demonstrations to the highlight of the event; the battle reenactment, the historical village depicted life in the colonial era. Many of the reenactors showed off their culinary chops and craft making skills.
One of the delicacies served up at the encampment was egg pie (yum). And, it is still considered a popular dish in some parts. The big meal of the day, however, was a turkey dinner with all the fixings.
Horses played an integral part of life during this time and there were many people riding or caring for their horses. I found it heartwarming to see the care and effort they put into caring for these animals.
Some of the items on display were toys from that era. I don’t know about you. But, I’d rather play with my phone!
Tents and soldiers could be found throughout the encampment.
Some of the weapons from that era were also on display. I especially appreciated the fine detail incorporated in these weapons.
Music also played a big part at the event.
These drummers had a unique type of drumming. Not only did they bang on their drums, they also banged their sticks together.
I noticed these musicians practicing before a musical event.
Doctor Newman, with the assistance of a fellow reenactor, explained the process of amputation during the Revolutionary War era. The average amputation at that time took 2 minutes and were done without any anesthesia. And, since liquor thins blood, they could not even take a few sips of whisky to help dull the pain.
For someone with such a gruesome job, Dr. Newman was a rather jovial sort.
The tools of the surgeon were shoddy. The white object that looks like a mitten was used to wrap the area where the amputation took place. It was a grim reminder of the cost of war that we should never forget.
There were many re-enactors I was fortunate enough to photograph at the event.
But, the re-enactors weren’t the only people who dressed up for the event. These visitors also dressed up in their best Colonial era attire.
Finally, after a busy day photographing the re-enactors, it was time for the Redcoats and Rebels battle to begin!
The battle was a realistic reenactment of the Revolutionary War.
As you can see by some of the soldiers in the photo below, the cannons did make a very loud noise.
The British proved to be a formidable opponent.
But, in the end, the Rebels were able to keep them at bay and eventually the Redcoats retreated.
Both armies made sure to not leave their wounded behind.
As I was leaving, I passed by the “Field Of Flags.” Each flag represents a person who had died serving their country. It was a moving display to never forget those who have sacrificed for their country.
New England Nomad 