Celebrate Holliston 2021 Comes Back Strong

The Holliston Police drone captured this view – thanks HPD!

The weather may have been dim and dreary, but Central Street from Washington Street to Blair Square was beaming and animated for Celebrate Holliston’s 2021 street party.  People seemed to have come out in droves to mingle with friends and community.  Booths, music, food and demonstrations lined the street.

Photo courtesy of Carolynn Henderson

The festivities kicked off with the presentation of colors and the National Anthem, sung by Chloe Drohan of Holliston High’s chorus.  The Fire House supplied the background for the presentations.  Speakers included event organizers, Nicole Lessard and Catie Ehret, State Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Carolyn Dykema, Select Board Clerk John Cronin, and the honorees of the event, Heather Scaringella and Paul Saulnier.

State Senate President Karen Spilka (left) awarded each Citizen of the Year with a Citation from the State Senate. Representative Carolyn Dykema (right) presented Citations from the House of Representatives. Both honorees received proclamations from the Select Board. US Congresswoman Karen Clark also provided a citation for each.

Paul and Heather were honored for their hearty volunteerism.  Each received citations, congratulations, and a very large bouquet of flowers.

Onlookers gathered excitedly applauded the proceedings.

A happily manned volunteer check-in booth provided distinctive blue and white tees to those working the event.  This was obviously one of those events that took a village, as blue and white tees were evident in abundance!

HCAT Cable TV went live with brief interviews of visitors.  If you missed the event, perhaps you’d like to catch it on cable today!

Many of our advertisers had set up to welcome the community:  Ahronian Landscaping presented a beautiful array of plants and flowers (and family!); True Value Hardware opened its new annex—its discount center in the recently acquired adjacent building.  You could even vote which of four paint colors you’d prefer the new building be painted!  (Number 3, a charcoal gray was ahead last we peeked.)

Down at Blair Square, you could see a demonstration of marshal arts as well as hear a noontime  performance by the HHS Chorus, under the direction of Max Evrard. 

We strolled through the Blair Square Farmers’ Market, and sighted Bobby Blair selling his books and Kevin Conley with the proposed Blair Square enhancements. There were some great-looking tomatoes and some promises of fresh sausage, chickens, and other hearty fare. 

Under the gazebo, we spied a couple of pumpkin heads being deposited by a group of friendly looking volunteers.  So they sat a spell, and we caught this great photo.  (We promised them their names would appear: L-R Bobby Frassinelli, Cooper Olson, and Kaden Dumas.)

Time to turn around and head home…we attempted to stroll back up Central to Washington Street to begin our trek home.  But the crowds had gotten thicker, expanding across the street in clumps of merry-makers wending their way down.  But we made it, and we’re excited to hear everyone’s comments about the return of Celebrate Holliston—2021 style!

Many thanks to this year’s sponsors who made this amazing community event possible!
Thank you HPD for securing a safe space for everyone to Celebrate Holliston!

Yvette Cain

1 Comment

  1. Travis Ahern (Town Administrator) on September 20, 2021 at 5:37 pm

    This was a great event. My family had a great time seeing all the wonderful things that Holliston has to offer. Well done to all involved!

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