Downtown road reconstruction blamed for cancellation of event last year.
Volunteer April Grant of Northampton, plays the fiddle as she strolls the grounds of the Westfield Colonial Harvest Day on the town's common in 2007.WESTFIELD - With the on-going $14 million downtown road reconstruction nearing an end, Westfield on Weekends and the Business Improvement District are planning a full variety of fall and holiday activities, including the return of Colonial Harvest Days.
"Confusion, because of the construction, during the past 16 months have made it difficult to schedule events," said Lisa G. McMahon, BID director.
"We have been transition but now the Green is starting to take shape and things are a little easier to plan," add Robert A. Plasse, president of WOW.
Officially, the construction project is not scheduled for full completion until next March but all major work is expected to end before winter, officials have said.
"Everything has been difficult to plan and schedule because of construction but now everything is starting to take shape and you can actually see what is hapening," said Plasse.
Because of that, Plasse said WOW, along with BID and supporters of both agencies, are planning their fall and holiday season projects.
Colonial Harvest Day, which was canceled last year because of road reconstruction, will return Sept. 24 with a Haunted Harvest Pub & Restaurant Tour again scheduled for Oct. 22.
Colonial Harvest Day is a focus on Westfield's colonial era including Town Criers, Revolutionary War reenactors, horse-drawn hay wagon rides, games and crafts of that era. This year the day will also feature a Harvest Day Beer Garden with its own Harvest Day Ale brewed by Berkshire Brewing Co. "That will complement a planned colonial luncheon, a variety of food booths and the sale of locally harvested produce," said Plasse.
The BID will host a free outdoor concert Aug. 18 in the Church Street Commons featuring Changes in Latitudes and is continuing with its Thursday Farmers Market on Franklin Street through September.
Activities by both agencies are funded through grants, private and public donations, vendor fees and sponsors and all is a result of a collaboration that includes the Chamber of Commerce, Westfield State University, municipal government, local charity groups and numerous local businesses, McMahon and Plasse said.
"Everyone is working together to bring people to Westfield's downtown, focus on what it will look like when reconstruction is complete and to support downtown businesses," said McMahon.
The annual holiday tree lighting and olantern light Parade will be held Nov. 28.
Like last year, Westfield's holiday tree may not be located on Park Square Green because of on-going work.
"We may not be on the Green for the tree lighting but it will again be held nearby on Court Street if necessary," said McMahon.
Plasse said the holiday season will again feature a Dickens' Dinner and the annual Dickens' Days Village Stroll in early December. Members of WOW will also perform again at Springfield's Bright Nights.
Westfield Woman's Club community theater group will perform 'It's a Wonderful Life on Dec. 2 and 3.
"Many fall and holiday events are returning but there will also be new ones," said Plasse.