Autumnfest awaits
Preparations are almost complete for 40th annual Woonsocket Autumnfest
WOONSOCKET – Autumnfest Steering Committee Chair Richard Savaria was looking pretty harried on Wednesday, but only in a good way. Savaria was busy completing all the last minute details needed to kick-off the city’s 40th Autumnfest celebration at World War II Veteran Memorial State Park this weekend and everything seemed to be coming together at just the right time.
The weather report was also calling for a great sunny weekend that would only put a better shine on all the work being done.
“Everyone is busy as bees at the park and they are doing what they are supposed to be doing to put together one incredible three-day festival,” Savaria said.
Then, Savaria was back on his cell phone talking with city Public Works Director Steven D’Agostino about some lighting needs at the park and getting the help he needed from the city official in just a short conversation.
“Director D’Agostino and Richard Lambert, the highway superintendent, have been a tremendous help,” Savaria said while noting their department members were working with the Steering Committee and volunteers to complete all the needed last minute tasks to make World War II Park attractive and safe for the festival.
“The city’s employees have been all over what needs to be done,” he said.
The work in progress included setting up orange fencing to direct crowd traffic, final set-up of the food court and its many offerings from local community organizations, restaurants and businesses, and the lighting and sound work at the just about completed Rotary Club Main Stage.
Savaria had plenty of thanks for the area businesses who have come forward to fill special needs, like the Pumpkin Seed in Bellingham which decorated both of the park’s stages with fall colors and flowers. Pepin Lumber and Beauchemin Lumber were providing needed building supplies, and Li’l General donated snack items for the Autumnfest Drag Queen fundraiser that was set for Thursday evening in the beer garden. Tickets for the age 21-and-up show featuring seven performers were $20 in advance and $25 at the door, but Savaria said it may already be sold out given the event’s location inside the enclosed beer garden.
The Rotary Club-operated beer garden will be open again on Friday evening from 7 to 11 p.m. as Autumnfest warms up with the Half Star Hotel band performing on the beer garden stage. Then the official opening ceremony for this year’s edition of Autumnfest will be held on the Main Stage Saturday morn- ing at 10.
Saturday will offer a full line-up of community talent shows, bands such as the Rich Bobinski Orchestra and Manny Brando during the day, and then Dance & Beyond and the Ocean State Follies before this year’s headliner group, the Blues Brothers Revue takes the stage at 7:30 p.m.
The Little Miss Autumnfest Pageant is also on tap for the 40th edition of Autumnfest and will be held on stage at Kid’s Fest beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
There are plenty of other events scheduled at Kid’s Fest, and like the entertainment schedule for the Main Stage, all can be found on the Autumnfest brochure or online at www.autumnfest.org.
Savaria said events on Saturday will also include the Dodgeball competition for the elementary school and middle school divisions at the park basketball courts. Registration will be held at the courts before the competition begins at 10:30 a.m., he noted.
On Sunday, there will be no tug-of-war this year due to an insufficient number teams, but the Rotary Club is hosting its Autumnfest 5K race behind the beer garden on East School Street at 10 a.m.
Sunday will also bring Emily Luther and a band she has put together for Autumnfest to the Main Stage from 7 to 9 p.m. and her headliner act will run into the fireworks display that night at 9 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 8, Columbus Day, will start with the 10-division Autumnfest parade featuring a special tribute to D-Day in the first division, and a line up of bands including the Dartmouth High School Band, New England High School Champions, the 88th Army Band, and area bands including the Woonsocket High School and Middle School bands, Mount St. Charles Academy Marching Band, North Smithfield High School, Cumberland High School, Burrillville High School, Douglas High School and the BMR Marching Band, as well as the Icabod Crane “Riders” Marching Band, the Killing High School Band, and the R.I. Firefighters Pipes and Drum Band.
After the parade, the last full day of Autumnfest will continue in World War II Veterans Memorial Park where visitors will find great food, craft booths, a community business showcase and of course more stage entertainment.
While he remains busy and harried, Savaria said he is feeling great about this year’s Autumnfest celebration.
“The weather is clear all the way through and there is no threat of rain,” he said. “That makes me feel real good,” Savaria said while noting all the hard work that has been done to make this year event a success.
“It is going to be a fabulous festival and everyone is going to have a good time,” Savaria said.
Members of the Autumnfest Steering Committee working at the park on Wednesday were in agreement with that view.
Tyler Martin, working with Susan Kirwan on park management, said everything seemed to be falling into place on the park’s preparations. “Everything looks good so far,” he said. “We have to put up the orange fencing and signage stating that there is no smoking, no dogs, no skating and no bikes,” Martin said.
“We had a lot of volunteers working with us this year which was awesome and the committee thanks them all,” he added.
Kirwan said she thinks the park looks great for the festival even after the recent rain. “We were very organized and started early and we have it well under control,” she said.
Garrett Mancieri, handling fundraising in addition to his vice chair responsibilities, said he too had plenty of thanks to pass out for the financial support this year’s major sponsors gave to Autumnfest.
“We raised a little over $65,000 this year,” Mancieri said while noting the total was a significant increase over last year’s tally of $45,000. CVS Health was the top sponsor while giving $10,000 and was followed by Landmark Medical Center, Lepine Financial Advisors, Senators Roger Picard and Marc Cote, and Bridgestone giving $5,000 donations.
Planet Fitness, Navigant Credit Union and Cayer Caccia, followed with donations of $2,500 each, he noted.
“I’m really excited about the 40th Annual Autumnfest celebration and I think a lot of people will come the festival and see what it has to offer this year,” he said.
Nancy Phillips, another member of the committee and a veteran of 27 of the events, said she believes the weather is going to make this year a very special celebration. “It should be a wonderful Autumnfest and I am really looking forward to it,” she said.