Bear Fest Easthampton 2009

Bear Fest Easthampton 2009 is in full swing. On June 13th the Easthampton City Arts unveiled 35 artist created fiberglass bears in and around downtown Easthampton, MA.

On Sunday, my husband, my 2 dogs and I took a walk to view many of the creations with names like Ted E. Bear, Ursa Major, Bumble Bear (shown in photo), and Bear Hugs. It took us hours to walk the short distance because we kept meeting friends and neighbors with their families enjoying the bears as well. All of the bears are beautifully painted, or otherwise artistically enhanced.

In honor of Bear Fest, Mt Tom Ice Cream created a special ice cream treat and Opa Opa, the local brewery created a special brew. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company, we are featuring our Bear-y Special Gift Basket.

Bear Fest 2009 will continue through out the summer with city wide events culminating in a week-long celebration of the arts including concerts, an ArtWalk, and a gala dinner and auction of the bears on October 15th.

For those of you in Western Massachusetts, take a stroll around downtown. I guarantee you will have a great time. Stop for an ice cream at Mt Tom's or a coffee and pastry at Sunrise. Try the Sunday buffet at Your Way Gourmet, and while you are in Eastworks (that's where Bumble Bear and Astronaut Bear are), stop by the Laurel Mountain studios and say hello.

Going Green In Holyoke

For those of us who grew up in the Valley (the Pioneer Valley that is) and marched the 2.6 mile long parade route with our high school band or town drum corp, the Holyoke (MA) St Patrick's Day Parade is not only a part of our own personal history but is an annual event shared with family and friends. Started in 1952 the Holyoke Parade has grown to become the second largest in the country, New York City's being number one. The event draws over one million viewers, boasts 40,000 marchers, 30 floats and 40 marching bands including the Philadelphia Mummers and Springfield's (MA) own Melha Shriners.
Over the 57 year history many famous people have marched along side our high school bands including the then Senator, John F. Kennedy and his wife, actor Robert Stack, actress Maureen O'Hara, author Tom Clancy as well as astronauts, and national sports figures. Of course, no St Patrick's Day Parade would be worth its green beer without a beautiful Coleen and her court, local dignitaries and contingents from the area Chambers of Commerce.
In 1976, a 10K road race was added to the festivities. Held the Saturday before the Parade, the race continues to grow, last year hosting 3,000 runners. Many acomplished runners use the Holyoke event as a training race for the Boston Marathon. The celebration also includes Irish Night events in many of the surrounding towns featuring the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinners with plenty of Irish soda bread and of course, green beer.
It's great fun.... Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

The Easthampton Bear Fest 2009 has begun. On Thursday night Easthampton celebrated with a Welcome the Bears Party! a Mardi Gras themed party held at Eastworks and catered by Apollo Grill. Party goers had the opportunity to view the over 130 proposals and vote for their favorite. The judges are going to have their hands full. There are only 30 life sized fiberglass bear sculptures and every one of the proposals I saw was amazing! On Friday, a Free Family Welcome the Bears Party took place at Eastworks. It was an opportunity for kids as well as adults to see the unpainted bears, view the proposals and vote for their favorite Local artists were on hand to help the kids make their own bear masks. CREATE Children's Art Studio hosted a "decorate your own bear" day. Kira created cute "bear statutes" to give little artists the opportunity to paint or otherwise decorate their own bear. A special bear will be marching with the Easthampton City Arts contingent in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade (want to be involved? -- contact Easthampton Bear Fest or the Easthampton City Arts for information) and on June 13th there will be Bear unveiling during Art Walk! The Bears will be on display around the down town area for four months and the event will culminate October 11 -18 with a week long celebration of the arts, a gala ball and the auction of the Bears! The proceeds will benefit Eathampton public schools art programs, Riverside Industries Art Program, provide commmissions to the artists who decorate the Bears and to help sustain Easthampton City Arts.At Laurel Mountain Basket Company, we love bears! Our Bear-y-Special Gift Basket is one of the gift baskets we are featuring for Mother's Day this year and bears of all sizes in our large assortment of baby gift baskets.