Andrew Baker, Executive Director at the Hilltown CDC in Chesterfield, MA writes:

Illustration credit: Annette Rubino-Buckley

The 3rd annual Hilltown Spring Festival is gearing up for an exciting Hilltown showcase.  This year’s Festival will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2009, from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm at the Cummington Fairgrounds.  Already, local performers, businesses, educational groups and schools are signing up for available exhibition spaces.

The Festival features great local food from Hilltown eateries, live music and entertainment by professional and student performers, and children’s entertainment.  The 3rd annual Festival also includes a Hilltown Business Expo, an Art and Craft Exposition and a Focus on Sustainability featuring environmental education and renewable energy displays.  Last year, nearly 1,000 Hilltown residents came out to celebrate and visit on a beautiful sunny day. 

“The enthusiasm keeps building each year,” said Seth Isman, Festival organizer and Economic Development Director at the Hilltown Community Development Corporation.  “I’m getting calls every day from local businesses and artists wanting to sign up.”

The Hilltown Spring Festival is designed to provide a showcase for Hilltown businesses, artists, restaurants, performers, educators and school groups, and an opportunity for area residents to celebrate, visit, learn, network and ‘buy local’.  This year, more exhibitors are focusing on giving demonstrations and making presentations about their work.  Musicians will offer workshops and jam sessions; landscapers and contractors will be offering how-to tips.  “It’s going to be a real hands-on opportunity to learn about businesses and educators in our communities, and to learn from them,” added Isman.

The Festival was first organized in 2007 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hilltown CDC.  In response to steadily increasing interest, Hilltown CDC has continued to organize the Festival as an annual community celebration of Hilltown life.

The Hilltown Spring Festival is sponsored by local business sponsors and by eleven Hilltown cultural councils in Ashfield, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington, which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

To participate in the Hilltown Spring Festival as a sponsor, exhibitor, vendor, volunteer or performer, contact Hilltown CDC at (413) 296-4536, ext 12, or email sethi@hilltowncdc.org .  For more information, visit the HCDC website at http://www.hilltowncdc.org.

Andrew Baker
Executive Director
Hilltown Community Development Corp.
387 Main Road, P.O. Box 17
Chesterfield, MA  01012
(413) 296-4536 ext. 18
(413) 296-4020 fax