LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The inaugural Lanesborough Day will celebrate the small town and offer a chance for residents to get-together under the new pavilion.

 

Bill Laston Memorial Park will be filled with food, music, activities, and more on Saturday. The town hopes for a good turnout and that this will become an annual event.

 

Leading the effort is the Community Development Committee (formerly the Economic Development Committee) after the Select Board approved its rebrand earlier this year. Town Administrator Gina Dario took inspiration from gatherings in nearby communities and those of Lanesborough's past.

 

"When I joined the town back in February of last year, I heard that there had been previous events at Laston Field, sometimes the Fire Department would hold community barbecues, and then I had seen a couple of other towns including Dalton doing community days in the summer months," she said.

 

"It kind of sat with me for a little bit and then I thought, 'We've got Laston Park, we should really take advantage of it. COVID's passed, now is the time that we really want to bring people together,' but it didn't really sit with any one committee. There was no one that was going to lead it."

 

At the same time, the Economic Development Committee had gone dormant and Dario saw an opportunity.

 

"I proposed a sort of rebranding to it as a community development committee and one of its objectives would be to organize and deliver Lanesborough Day as what we hope will be an annual event," she said.

 

The event will also introduce Laston Park's new $150,000 pavilion that has been in the works for three years.  The 40-by-80-foot steel structure can accommodate many attendees.

 

Dario said it's "great resource to the town" will be able to house live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and temporary seating.

 

The pavilion was funded through a $54,500 state grant from the Destination Development Capital program and a total of $100,000 from free cash approved at two town meetings.

 

"We had an initial grant, then we had some money raised through our annual town meetings to cover the difference because it's not a small capital project to erect a pavilion," Dario explained.

 

"We were finally able to get the plans approved through the Conservation Commission last year and ground broke a couple of months ago."

 

The Community Development Committee has a "very modest" annual budget of about $3,700 but has applied for an additional festival grant and has garnered sponsorships for the event. While there are some unknowns, Dario said they are within the set budget.

 

There will be a variety of local food vendors as well as a free bounce house, popcorn, water, and the Pittsfield Police's Copsicle truck giving out frozen treats. First responders will also offer a Touch a Truck event.

 

"It's really important that we had it be affordable for people," she said.

 

There will also be a shuttle from overflow parking at Town Hall and multiple vendors.  

 

Dario explained that this is something the town has wanted but there hasn't been the momentum or tipping point to get it spearheaded. People are excited, she said, and planners are thinking of how they can leverage this event to get momentum for other activities. 

 

"I really do hope this is one of many regular events but something that kind of tips the scale for Lanesborough to do more within the park," she said.

 

If the event is canceled for rain, it will be rescheduled to Aug. 10.

 

Food offerings include hamburgers, hot dog and ice cream; free popcorn and water, and the Copsicle truck. Local busineses and organizations will have tables and displays; children's activities including face painting, balloon animals, a bounce house, Smokey Bear and Spot the Robot, and Touch a Truck. The event will also kickoff for Lanesborough's Hometown Heroes Program. Overflow parking will be available at the Old Forge and Town Hall with shuttle service provided

 

Music schedule: Rev Tor from 11 to noon; Wintergreen Trio to 1; Lindsay Anne and Elvis tribute artists Jackson Ducharme to 3; and Jason and Trev will play the last hour.