Lee Chamber Names 2026 Founders Weekend Parade Marshall
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| The Lee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has named Phil Smith as the 2026 Lee Founders Weekend Parade Marshal. |
LEE, MA — The Lee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has named Phil Smith as the 2026 Lee Founders Weekend Parade Marshal, honoring nearly two decades of service to the Lee community and his longstanding commitment to the town’s businesses, history, and civic life.
Lee Founders Weekend will take place September 18–20, 2026.
Smith and his wife, Kathy, first began spending time in Lee in 1992, when they owned a vacation condominium in town. During those years, they explored the Berkshires extensively, including hiking the Massachusetts portion of the Appalachian Trail, before making Lee their permanent home in 2005.
A year later, Smith began a four-year term as director of the Lee Chamber of Commerce. During that time, he helped grow Chamber membership and strengthen connections with visitor attractions throughout Berkshire County. He continued to volunteer with the Chamber after leaving the director’s position, including staffing the Visitors Booth, where he welcomed visitors to Lee and helped them discover the area, as well as researching, writing, and maintaining handouts highlighting things to see and do throughout the Berkshires.
Smith was named an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Lee Chamber and a Board Member Emeritus in 2011 and received the Chamber’s President’s Award in 2013.
His community involvement extends well beyond the Chamber. He represented Lee on the Board of Directors of Housatonic Heritage, including terms as Vice Chair and Chair, contributed to the effort to restore the Kilbon
Fountain, and was asked to serve on the Berkshire Gateway Foundation Board.
He currently serves on the Lee Historical Society Board, where he is curator of exhibits and has helped develop seven major exhibits since 2019, sharing Lee’s history with residents and visitors.
Smith has also researched the history of the Lee Chamber, helping uncover the organization’s centennial in 2024.
"Phil has been part of the Lee community in so many di?erent ways for many years," said Alexandra Heddinger, director of the Lee Chamber of Commerce.
"He has helped promote our businesses, welcome visitors, preserve our history, and strengthen our community organizations. He is someone who has consistently been willing to pitch in and contribute, and we’re delighted to have him lead this year’s parade."
Reflecting on his years in Lee, Smith said, "It has been a pleasure to work with so many wonderful people building a strong sense of community in our adopted home town of Lee."
The 2026 Founders Weekend Hometown Parade will take place on Saturday,
September 19, as part of Lee Founders Weekend, September 18–20. The parade is one of the highlights of the three-day celebration, which includes the Taste of Lee and fireworks on Friday, vendors, live music, food and family activities on Saturday, and the Dog Parade, Cornhole Tournament, and Lee Lions Rubber Duck Race on Sunday.
More than 100 participants are already confirmed for this year’s Founders Weekend, with additional activities and participants continuing to be added.
Lee Founders Weekend, hosted by the Lee Chamber of Commerce, honors Lee’s history while celebrating its vibrant business community and community spirit. The three-day festival brings together businesses, organizations, volunteers, performers, and residents for a weekend of events and activities in the heart of the
Berkshires.
The Lee Chamber of Commerce supports and fosters community prosperity while advancing the economic, civic, and social welfare of the town. The Chamber provides a forum for addressing local business needs and represents its members with a unified voice. Membership is open to businesses, organizations, and
individuals with interests aligned with these goals.
For more information, visit leechamber.org.
