Celebrate Weston set for this weekend

With the town election and Annual Town Meeting in the rearview mirror, it’s time to celebrate Weston.

Celebrate Weston, the annual townwide celebration, returns to the Town Green for its fifth season on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a variety of activities and social opportunities for all ages. The free event brings together Weston residents, town organizations, clubs and businesses for a day of fun that showcases the myriad cultures in the community. The rain date is Sunday, May 17.

Dusty Rhodes, the event’s main organizer, said Celebrate Weston’s essence traces back to Weston’s 300th anniversary celebration in 2013, as well as from a desire from the Select Board to highlight the improvements to the town center in 2021.

“By showing off all of these different opportunities, it amplifies how diverse and colorful the town is,” Rhodes said. “Everything’s pretty much homegrown.”

She said previous years’ celebrations have seen big turnout and, “We want to keep that tradition going.” Rhodes noted Celebrate Weston would not be possible without the town’s support.

“The town is wonderfully supportive, not only in helping us plan, but they make a substantial contribution that enables us to do it,” Rhodes said, praising Town Manager Leon Gaumond’s efforts. “We have great support from the Recreation Department, Police, Fire and DPW.”

Parking is available throughout the town center on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to use the St. Julia Church, First Parish Church and Center Street parking lots. Folks in need of transportation to and from the event may contact the Council on Aging at 781-786-6280.

Alongside businesses and clubs tabling the event are live musical performances, kids’ activities, touch-a-truck with Police, Fire and Department of Public Works vehicles, a scavenger hunt, interactive displays, tours, food and more. Food, Rhodes noted, is one area that Celebrate Weston has been trying to expand in recent years.

“We’re trying to bring more food to the Green,” Rhodes said.

Another major draw is the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland’s sixth annual Children’s Business Fair, which will bring 70 kid-run businesses to the Town Green for a real-life lesson on entrepreneurship.

Alex Faigel, the Rotary Club member who organizes the business fair, said it is an opportunity for kids between 6 and 14 to dip their toes into the entrepreneurial realm, be creative, potentially get inspired about their future and, of course, make a little extra money for themselves.

“Kids make a bunch of money and learn the tenets of business,” he said. “We hope it will give the spark to one or two children to think big and to find passion and be able to look back in their lives one day, that this was the catalyst that put them on their path.”

This is the fifth year the Rotary Club is holding the business fair, and Faigel said they had 140 applications, which is the most they’ve ever had. While the focus is on the business fair itself, the kids participating also attend four educational sessions where they learn about pricing, customer service, marketing and taking pre-orders, as well as hearing from a guest entrepreneur, such as the founders of Heirloom restaurant.

At Celebrate Weston, Faigel said there will be something for everyone, as some kids might make or bake food, some will make beauty or wellness products, and others will make arts and crafts, among many other industries. Businesses will accept cash and Venmo.

“You can support the local ‘kidpreneurs,’ and it’s just a fun, little shopping experience,” he said.