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!
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.
Hours: The murals are available to view throughout the day
Parking: There is metered street parking available in the city. There are also two municipal parking lots in the city (see link below for more information)
There always seems to be new works of art popping up throughout the various cities and towns all over New England. These works of art often have a special meaning or purpose behind them. The Beyond Walls mural project has been a big contributor to both exhibiting art and spreading their messages of heritage, pride and other important messages.
The Beyond Walls project features murals in several cities such as Massachusetts including Lynn, Haverhill, Lowell, Chicopee and the murals displayed in this post in Holyoke.
These murals are part of the El Corazon – The Heart of Holyoke from 2022 which I photographed and posted on my blog. But, the artists keep adding to the mural project or changing the murals over time. These murals were not made until after the initial murals were created. Some of the murals have a special meaning or message about the community or people from the community. Others are the free expression of art by the artist.
All of the locations for these murals are in Holyoke. I tried to list them in the order they can best be seen in case you want to make a trip to see them for yourself!
Holyoke Community College
303 Homestead Ave
While most of the murals are located near each other in the downtown Holyoke or South Holyoke area, this mural was located further away in the main campus at Holyoke Community College. Betsy Cananas was surprised and impressed with the diversity of the student population of Holyoke Community College, particularly the Latinx, particularly the Puerto Rican, population of the students. In this vein, she decided to create a mural depicting a bomba classroom. Betsy payed homage to the cultural roots of the audience as well as creating a visual narrative that resonates deeply with their experiences. There is more info about the mural and artist at the following link
Holyoke Health Center
230 Maple St
This mural is a mixture of many people and things that depict Holyoke. From the gorilla arms meant to show the strength of the community to the coquí, to old San Juan, to coconuts, jíbaro (farmer), salsa, plena, congas, food and tropical flowers there are many tributes to Holyoke and it’s people of Puerto Rican descent. The mural also gives a nod to the world famous Puerto Rican singer Hector LaVoe and, perhaps surprisingly, the Irish population of the area. To the right of the mural there is a portrait of John F Kennedy with the colors of the flag of Ireland. It really shouldn’t be a surprise, though. For over 70 years, they have held one of the most popular Irish Pride parades and Grand Colleen events in Massachusetts.
You can find out more about the mural and artist here.
284 Maple Street North Wall
No, this isn’t a mural of Abraham Lincoln, although the similarity may be uncanny. German artist, Case Maclaim painted this mural in honor of a former Pioneer Valley resident and well known abolitionist John Brown.
This mural by Alexis Diaz is a tribute to Boricuas and Latinos outside their homeland. Boricuas is a spirit, flavor, and rhythm that you’ll feel in every part of Puerto Rico. It is meant to honor all of those who left their homeland of Puerto Rico to seek a better future. According to the 2010 census, Holyoke, Massachusetts had the largest Puerto Rican population per capita of any city in the United States outside of Puerto Rico. So, Puerto Rico plays a central role in much of the art in of the city. There is more information about this mural and artist here.
100 Appleton St
The Amazing Ske painted this mural to emphasize the importance of preserving the marine environment and the harmony generated among the different beings that inhabit it. The sharks, depicted with armor ,are portrayed as protectors of the ocean and their ability to maintain balance within it is reflected in the mural. The mural also reflects the message that all species are important and the need to work together to preserve the environment. Click here to find out more about the artist and mural.
South Shore YMCA
171 Pine St
Repoe9 created this work of art to display the spirit of hope and resilience. The colors of the hands, reaching for the sky, are meant to express the hope of optimism and an uplifting energy. There is more information about the mural and artist here.
Lawler Insurance Agency
1 Main St
There was no information available for this mural.
Battleship Block
648 S. Summer St
and
660 S. Bridge St
Built in 1910, this housing complex and compound was built by German immigrant workers and sold to French-Canadian developers. The housing development was largely comprised of Yiddish-speaking Russians, Greeks, German-speaking Poles, and Germans, as well as native-born and French Canadian residents. Nearly all of the occupants were employees of paper, woolen, or thread mills. These murals were created by BKFoxx and CP1. Follow the link for more information and photos of the mural here.
University Products
517 Main St
While originally disappointed to have to take a photo of this mural behind a fence, I later thought the chain link fence gave the mural an added artistic value and perhaps even an unintended social commentary.
Created by GoFive and TakeOne, this mural, “Yo Soy…” or “I am…” is a mesage meant to extend out into this community, and all who see it, is a form of self affirmation. Yo Soy! I am anything and everything. The following poem was posted on the website for the mural:
I am a powerful force.
I am light.
I am beauty, undefined.
I am capable.
I am resilient.
I am, You are, We are
ENOUGH!
You can find out more about the mural and artist here.
Baustein Building
523 Main St
This vibrant tapestry of this mural by the artist Golden celebrates the rich history and enduring legacy of the American Thread Company which was a central part of Holyoke, Massachusetts. Each part of the mural represents artistic expression and the spirit that flourished within those walls. You can find out more about the mural, the artist and the the history of this building here.
Yellow Brick Management
346 Race St
This mural created on the the former Boy’s Club of Holyoke by Gleo and aptly titled “Child Flower” is meant to celebrate the youthful energy of the building’s history. Click here to find out more about the mural and the artist.
Battleship Block
648 S. Summer St – East Wall
This mural “The Master of Masks” by Don Raúl Ayala Carrasquillo, Loizeño, who learned his craft from his father Don Castor Ayala, is meant to show the very same masks he learned to make from his dad. Don Raul added more color and additional horns to his masks and has passed down this art to his own children to preserve the tradition.
These murals are only a few of the works of art in the Beyond Walls mural project. Many of these murals either had been painted over older ones or were new additions to the El Corazon/The Heart Of Holyoke Mural Project that I posted about in 2022. If you do want to see these murals, and I highly suggest you do, do try to get there before they may be painted over again in the future!
Date Of Event: December 2, 2023 (event is held annually the first weekend of Dec)
Location: 13 Washington Square West, Salem, MA
Cost: Tickets for Christmas in Salem are available online at www.historicsalem.org at a cost of $40 for non-Historic Salem, Inc. members and $35 for HSI members. Tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. Tour tickets including the Friday night candle-lit preview are $120 for non-HSI members and $100 for members of Historic Salem, Inc. Christmas in Salem proceeds support the preservation mission of Historic Salem, Inc.
Hours: Sat & Sun 10-4
Parking: there are several parking lots and metered street parking throughout the city.
Summary: The Christmas In Salem event consists of a tour of historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. Each year, home owners and building management open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse into what these historic homes look like and what stories they may have.
Well, we made it ot the 10th and final house in the Christmas In Salem tour. This house was decorated a little different than the other houses on the tour as you will see later in this post. But, the house does have a rich history, just like the other homes in this tour.
The Andrew Safford House was commissioned in 1818 by John Andrew. Andrew made his fortune trading with Russia. He was also a partner with Samuel Archer in the merchant firm Archer and Andrew. For many years it was unclear who designed the house until The Peabody Essex Museum (who we will discuss later in thsi post) confirmed it was designed by Joseph True. True was a master carver and protege of famed Salem architect Samuel McIntire. The home features 4 large pine columns on the southern side of the house. The front parlor has a marble mantlepiece, a plaster -work ceiling and woodwork by Joseph True. One of the most prominent features of the house is the early nineteenth-century French wallpaper which depicts scenes of Cupid and Pysche (I had to Google that too).
After Andrew died in 1829, the house was divided between his widow Catherine and his son John Forrester Andrew. After John Forrester Andrew died in 1845 his widow, Louisa, owned the house until 1860. Over the next decade, the house was owned first by Edmund Smith, treasurer of the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company, and a merchant named Frederic M. Creamer. In 1871 the house was purchased by James O. Safford, a leather manufacturer. The house then passed through several generations of the Safford family before being acquired by the Essex Institute in 1947. The Andrew-Safford House is still maintained by its current organization, the Peabody Essex Museum.
The Andrew-Safford House showcased both Christmas and Moby Dick decor. While that may seem like an unusual combination, it makes perfect sense.
Since the Peabody Essex Museum maintains the house, they decided to include elements of their upcoming exhibit Draw Me Ishmael: The Book Arts of Moby Dick which will feature artistic depictions of the novel. According to the museum, Moby Dick is the most continuously, frequently and diversely depicted American work of literature. So, take that 50 Shades of Grey.
This was by far the most uniquely decorated home on the tour. The decor didn’t just include whale decorations (although there were some). There were also a penguin, jellyfish and whatever that pink thing is.
However, the main decor of the house was still Christmas and, of course, whale decor.
If you look closely at the Christmas trees (I know you must be thinking “my eyes” when you look at that blue tree) but you may see some marine life in the decorations such as sea horses and whales.
Another thing that I’ve mentioned in previous posts is how much I love the design, architecture and lighting fixtures of these historic homes.
The Call Me Ishmael exhibit will be on display at the Peabody Essex Museum from June 1, 2024 to January 4, 2026. You can find out more about the exhibit here
Thank you all for checking out my posts from this tour! I learned a lot about both these homes and how to photograph these beautiful homes in low light environments which can be challenging. I hope you join me later this year when I photograph this event again! And, of course, follow me here throughout the year on my many travels!
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Date Of Event: December 2, 2023 (event is held annually the first weekend of Dec)
Location: 94 Washington Square East, unit 102, Salem, MA
Cost: Tickets for Christmas in Salem are available online at www.historicsalem.org at a cost of $40 for non-Historic Salem, Inc. members and $35 for HSI members. Tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. Tour tickets including the Friday night candle-lit preview are $120 for non-HSI members and $100 for members of Historic Salem, Inc. Christmas in Salem proceeds support the preservation mission of Historic Salem, Inc.
Hours: Sat & Sun 10-4
Parking: there are several parking lots and metered street parking throughout the city.
Summary: The Christmas In Salem event consists of a tour of historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. Each year, home owners and building management open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse into what these historic homes look like and what stories they may have.
One of the great things about the Christmas In Salem tour is how each house, while still sharing a historical past and architectural similarity, can be so different. The decor for the Nathaniel Silsbee House is very different from many of the other houses on the tour.
The three story Federal stye brick building was erected in 1818 or 1819 for Nathaniel Silsbee, a prosperous shipmaster for the famous Derby family. The Briggs Street elevation still remains the original Federal entry, featuring an open portico on Doric columns and a now blocked elliptical fanlight.
Nathaniel Silsbee would go on to become a United States Senator for Massachusetts. He is said to have entertained such historical figures as Daniel Webster, James Monroe and Henry Clay in his home.
Silbee’s son, Nathaniel Jr, made extensive renovations in the Italianate style. These alterations are most prominent in the windows on the front facade and in the balustraded entrance portico on Corinthian posts.
The Kimball family would go on to own the home from 1866 to 1907. The Knights of Columbus purchased the home in 1907 and it remained as a meeting hall for them for over 100 years. The mansion was sold in 2018 and converted to condominiums.
The Silsbee home was one of the more elegant homes on the tour. In fact, I was a little hesitant to spend too much time there or get too close to the items in the home! Statues, an ornate stairway and decorations are some of the features of this home.
If you see paintings or works of art like the one over this fireplace, it’s a good bet it’s probably a flat screen TV. Some of the houses had TVs that were like the “Frame TV” that turns into a work of art when it is not being used.
Even though it’s not a holiday decoration, this clock really stood out to me. In fact, that is what struck me most about this home. You could have your home decorated like this all year round. The holiday decor was toned down. And, that may be why I liked it so much. Although I love the holidays, especially photographing holiday decor, I don’t have much of it in my home (more out of laziness I suppose) and I have a minimalist style in my home as well.
This home was one of the shorter tours I I love seeing people put a different spin on traditional decorations. These wreaths and other decorations gave the home a different holiday feel!
I especially liked the rabbit and deer decorations.
This house tour was short but sweet. But, there will be more homes on the tour that are decorated with more decorations!
New England Nomad 