Bedford Day is Apt to be Spectacular on September 23

Compiled by The Bedford Citizen

Recreation Director Amy Hamilton manages the Town’s Bedford Day celebrations and delights in finding space for everyone who wants to march in the parade or have a booth at the fair.

“Since the booth area grew beyond the Mudge Way parking lot area outside Town Hall, there are no ‘bad’ spaces,” says Hamilton. “There is a lot to see, plenty of food, and multiple activities. Bedford Day offers countless opportunities to see old friends, meet new ones and get to know our town.” Comfortable shoes are suggested.

The Friends of the Minuteman Bikeway will again offer a Bike Corral to keep your wheels safe while you’re checking the fair’s delights. As EcoSuzy says, “Leave the traffic and parking hassle behind, and ride your bike to Bedford Day!”

Bedford Day festivities begin early on the morning of September 23, with the 23^rd annual Danny Oates 5k / 2.5k walk / Kids Fun Run. A tethered hot air balloon might be launched from the playing field across from Bedford High School; check back next week to be certain! And in a throwback to high school days, a ‘jail’ will create hectic fun, as ‘prisoners’ are impounded. The ever-popular dunk tank is expected to return.

The Bedford Arts and Craft Society’s Regional Art Show will be open in Town Center, and the Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library’s autumn book sale will be under way across Mudge Way.

A parade, led by Bedford’s Citizen of the Year, will step off from the intersection of Loomis Street and The Great Road at 10:30 am, with a reviewing stand in front of the Bedford Police Station, just before the corner at Mudge Way. Word to the wise: expect road closures and plenty of traffic from 8 am until noon!

Bedford’s annual community fair sets up along Mudge Way / School Way, and on the circle in front of Town Center with scores of community organizations, faith communities, educational institutions, hospitals and local businesses gearing up to greet the crowds.

According to Hamilton’s projections, there will be approximately 135 booths!

Fairgoers will find community-based groups:

• Community organizations: ArtLink, Bedford Arts and Crafts Society, Bedford Box Top For Education Committee, Bedford Boy Scouts Troop 114, Bedford Cub Scouts Pack 194, Bedford Democratic Town Committee, Bedford Education Foundation, Bedford Elementary Schools Together – BEST/PTO, Bedford Embraces Diversity, Bedford Family Connection, Bedford Friends of Minuteman Bikeway, Bedford Garden Club, Bedford Hanscom Girl Scouts, Bedford Historical Society, Bedford Legion Riders, Bedford MADI – Destination Imagination, Bedford Minuteman Company, Bedford Republican Town Committee, Bedford TV, Boy Scout Troop 194, CSF of Bedford, Emma and Friend’s LemonAID Stand, Frank W Thompson Masonic Lodge, Friends for Matty, Friends of Bedford Public Library, Mothers out Front – Bedford, NAMI Central Middlesex, POMS, Relay for Life, Rotary Club of Bedford, and St Michael’s Knights of Columbus
• Bedford High School clubs and organizations: “The Lookout”, Amnesty International, Asian American Club, Best Buddies, Boys’ Basketball, Class of 2018, Class of 2019 , Class of 2020, Debate Team, DECA, Interact Club, JROTC, Multicultural Club, Red Cross Club, Science Team, Sexuality and Gender Alliance, Softball, Swim and Dive Team, Unicef Club, Varsity Cheerleaders, and the Volleyball Team
• Faith communities: First Baptist Church, First Church of Christ Congregational, First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Lutheran Church of the Savior, and St Paul’s Episcopal Church among others
• Recreation Department and Travel Sports teams: Travel Basketball, Gators Volleyball Club, LBH Pop Warner , Bedford Girls’ Lacrosse, Bedford Girls’ Soccer, and Bedford Youth Lacrosse – Bedford Youth Soccer will likely have a large presence in the parade but no booth.
• Town Departments and Boards: Bedford COA, Bedford Housing Partnership, Bedford Planning Board, and Bedford Youth & Family Services. Emerson Hospital and the Board of Health will share a tent offering health information, and screenings.

And local businesses:

• Banks: Cambridge Savings Bank, DCU – Digital Federal Credit Union, Hanscom Federal Credit Union, and Middlesex Savings Bank.
• Health and fitness: AFC Urgent Care, Attitudes Dance & Fitness, barre3 Bedford, Bedford Dental Associates – Michael Garber DMD, Bedford Orthodontics, B-Fit Bedford Fitness & Nutrition, Callahan’s Karate Studio, Chestnut Dental, Dr Dianne Bridgeman – Dentist, Elite Freestyle Karate, GrooveWrx, Kamate Fitness, Lahey Health, Moving Forward Physical Therapy, Musa Total Martial Arts, North Road Chiropractic, Nutrition and Whole Health Solutions, Right at Home In Home Care , The Edinburg Center, and The Well Effect.
• Nail and Hair Salons: I Do Nail Bar, Organix Spa & Salon, Pro Touch Esthetics Spa Skincare Group, and Pronails Spa.
• Pet Care: Jessie’s Pet Care and Lexington-Bedford Vet Hospital
• Preschools: Bedford Montessori School, LEAP School, and Open Arms Christian Preschool
• Realtors:  Susan Cheng Realty, Suzanne & Company, and The Debbie Spencer Group
• Restaurants:  Red Heat Tavern and Waxy O’Connor’s
• Service Providers: Minuteman Senior Services, Seniors Helping Seniors, and Servpro of Lexington-Bedford
• Stores:  Learning Express Bedford, Stop & Shop, and Whole Foods Market
• As well as: 28th Amendment, Bedford Education Assoc., Bina Farm Centers, Cultural Care AuPair, Dept of Children & Family Foster Parent Recruitment , Dev Sanskriti University Foundation, Inc., Green World Vision, Laura’s Thrifty-One Gifts, Leonards Music LLC, The Etiquette Academy of New England, The Moss Group, The Yellow Tulip Project, US Army, Visiting Angels, Voter Choice Massachusetts, and the Winchester School of Chinese Culture

So, put on your most comfortable walking shoes and come on down!