Photo provided by the author
Sofia Romaniw of Suffield is all smiles as she prepares to ride a pony led by Kristen Strain, owner of Star Pony Rentals of Granby, at last year’s Suffield on the Green events.
Save the date—Suffield’s beloved end-of-summer tradition will be here before you know it. The popular weekend celebration of “all things Suffield” takes over the Town Green on September 8-9, 2018. It’s almost time for Suffield on the Green, the signature event hosted by the Friends of Suffield volunteer organization.
Suffield on the Green & Craft Fair Schedule:
Saturday, Septermber 8: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, September 9: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This year’s Suffield on the Green & Craft Fair will feature the kinds of fun that residents have come to expect. That means enjoyment for the whole family. People will enjoy all kinds of crowd pleasers … like interesting, info-packed booths; a hands-on kids’ area filled with activities, including pony rides; live music from several genres; food galore and much more.
A weekend of “local”
Suffield on the Green & Craft Fair continues its over-40-year tradition of showcasing community groups. Local non-profit organizations like the Scouts, churches, child care centers and school groups display what they do. In the spirit of the weekend, exhibitors often build awareness and raise funds for their cause through fun games, entertaining contests, scrumptious “bake sale” goods and more. (Hint: If you want one of the tastiest pies ever, get there Saturday morning!)
Businesses may introduce themselves to the community at Suffield on the Green, although they cannot sell anything. Political groups from town will be on-hand to share information and conversation. And let’s not forget the people aspect of this much-loved event. Citizens of Suffield have long hailed the weekend as the “unofficial end of summer,” and savor the opportunity to connect with friends and acquaintances they may not have seen in a while. Whether you’re 2 months old, or 102 years young, there’s fun for all.
Dog day afternoon
For many town residents, Suffield on the Green’s treasured Canine Contest on Sunday is the highlight of the weekend. This year, Sunday afternoon will once again “go to the dogs” – thanks to the multi-category canine competition, where every dog’s a winner. No matter if you’re a spectator or participant, it’s hard not to smile as you watch the fluffy craziness—or is it the crazy fluffiness?—going on inside the contest corral. The contest happens Sunday, September 9 at 2 p.m. Please note that you and your “pup partner” MUST register first; registration starts at 1 p.m.
Ponies anyone? Dogs won’t be the only four-legged creatures on the green that weekend. Children can look forward to pony rides again this year on the North Green. Check the Friends of Suffield website at www.FriendsOfSuffield.org for timing information.
Hand-Made for You
The ever-popular Craft Fair—with its free admission—continues to delight. Crafters will be located on the Main Green again this year, selling hand-made, original crafts such as jewelry, art, photography, food items (e.g., honey), doll clothing, people clothing and accessories, and a host of other unique items. Descriptions of things you can find at the Craft Fair run the gamut from: beautiful to delicious, practical to fanciful, popular to one-of-a-kind, and the list goes on. Think ahead—support the hard work of crafter, and get a head start on your holiday shopping at the same time.
Wanted: Volunteers!
If you’re willing to help out before, during or after the weekend’s festivities, we’d love your help! We really need volunteers to be able to put on a high-quality event that lives up to our town’s standards. We have tasks ranging from easy to challenging/physical, and likewise, varying degrees of people interaction — from working with crowds to assisting with jobs that involve just one or two others. Please e-mail us at friends@friendsofsuffield.org. One of our friendly volunteers will contact you.
As always, the two-day event takes place the weekend after Labor Day, on the Town Greens—at the intersection of Main Street (Rt. 75) and Mountain Road (Rt. 168).
At press time, exciting plans were underway to book additional activities – visit www.FriendsofSuffield.org for more information and updates. Also look for late-breaking details in the September issue of this paper. See you at the Green!