Fire and Ice: Williamstown Holiday Walk Returns
 The popular Reindog Parade draws dozens of holiday dressed canines — and sometimes goats and other four-footed creatures. All local dogs are invited to attend, but their owners must be leashed. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Will Farrell (as Buddy the Elf) and Williamstown history will be on display Saturday when the 31st edition of Holiday Walk kicks off in the Village Beautiful.
The annual celebration includes a free film at Images Cinema, the annual Reindog Parade, the Penny Social fundraiser, the tree lighting and, this year, a chance to see a 19th-century fire hose cart that is undergoing restoration at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center.
JB Gale No. 2, which was acquired by the town's fire department in about 1895, is the property of the Gale Hose Company, a fraternal organization of firefighters that supports the current Williamstown Fire District.
The artifact was discovered in a shed in town a few years ago and earlier this year was delivered to the conservation center at the Clark Art Institute's Lunder Center.
On Saturday, it will be transported to Williams College's Lasell Gymnasium, where it will be displayed from 3 to 6 p.m. during the Penny Social, the annual fundraiser for the Williamstown Community Chest.
"Myself and the leadership of the Fire District have said, 'Let's bring it out into the community,' " firefighter Alex Steele said. "Let's show Williamstown and other interested people what we have.
"We're giving it back to the community to say, ‘This is what we have. This is a symbol of more than 100 years of service.' … School children and people who had firefighters in the family and all town residents can take pride in it."
Steele credited Community Chest Executive Director Anne Singleton for providing the space for Saturday's display, the Williamstown Historical Museum and the late Carl Westerdahl for helping find photos of the cart in action back in the early 20th century, the Conservation Center for its help transporting the cart and the Clark for providing velvet ropes to help cordon off the the display.
Keeping in mind that the cart still has not been restored — the Gale Hose Company plans to raise funds to pay for the restoration — it is still a fragile piece.
"We've given that some consideration," Steele said. "It should be monitored by one or two firefighters while it's there. … We're going to some lengths to make this happen, and we've taken some precautions."
Holiday Walk weekend gets under way on Friday night with carols and cocoa on the Clark's Fernandez Terrace, where a capella singers from Williams College will entertain as the crowd dines on s'mores and hot chocolate from 5 to 7 p.m. The weekend concludes on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. with a tea in the lobby of the Williams Inn.
In between, there is plenty of food, drink, songs and spirit for participants of all ages.
Friday
- 5 to 7 p.m., S'mores and songs on the Clark terrace.
Saturday
- 1 p.m. Free screening of "Elf," starring Will Farrell, Images Cinema.
- 2 to 5 p.m. Alternative Gift Fair, First Congregational Church.
- 2 to 6 p.m. Habitat for Humanity Tree Showcase, First Congregational Church.
- 3 p.m. Reindog Parade, Spring Street.
- 3 to 5:30 p.m., Holiday music featuring the Williamstown Elementary School band and orchestra, The Springstreeters, Flat Bed Jazz, Bennington (Vt.) Children's Chorus, Elizabethans, Ephlats, MCLA Allegrettos, Williams College Brass Ensemble, Williams College Gospel Choir and Pine Cobble Choir.
- 3 to 5:30 p.m., Cub Scout Toy Drive, Spring Street.
- 3 to 6 p.m., Penny Social, Lasell Gymnasium.
- 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Santa Claus on Spring Street.
- 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Holiday Bake Off, The Log, Spring Street.
- 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Cookie decorating on Spring Street.
- 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., "A Christmas Carol," performance starring Jeffrey Welch and Drew Gibson, The Log, Spring Street.
- 5:30 p.m., Tree Lighting, bottom of Spring Street.
- 6 p.m., Christmas Play, Community Bible Church, Bridges Road.
Sunday
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Williamstown Elementary School Craft Fair, including pancake breakfast with Santa Claus.
- 3 to 5 p.m., Afternoon tea, Williams Inn.
- 6 p.m., Christmas Play, Community Bible Church, Bridges Road.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.
