#PelhamTogetherStories. . . Connection: SummerFest, WinterFest, We Love Our 'Fests!

Pelham Together believes that connections are everything. Our mission, to create a safe, healthy, and vibrant community for and with all the youth of Pelham begs us to create opportunities where those connections flourish. And nothing says connection quite like a ‘Fest! We began in 2019 with our first ever SummerFest, held in Chester Park, where over 800 people came together to enjoy family-friendly games, a bake-off, a dog parade, a DJ, and live music from our incredible young musicians.

Covid thwarted our plans in 2020, but only at first! As winter held us inside, we planned an outdoor evening to bring us back together safely, while remaining apart, and WinterFest was born! In January 2021, we pulled together 30 local performances outside all over town, dazzling holiday light displays in every neighborhood, and sweet treats along the way. Even a few local businesses got involved! Families could stroll through every neighborhood in town following a colorful map, enjoy a hot chocolate and a song from house to house, reconnecting after a long time apart. There were Pelham alumni playing music together for old times sake, a Grateful Dead cover band, and young people destined for Broadway, to name a few highlights. It was a magical night.

And finally, we were back with a downtown version of SummerFest 2021, adding a Tie Dye station, a huge play area in Wolfs Lane Park, crafts for the littles, a Thrive class for anyone who was willing, a rowing class by PCRA, the hugely popular Dog Parade, Spike Ball, topped off by Pelicones ice cream and live music at the Gazebo AND the Pelham Art Center. Again, the performers included Pelham youth, both current and former, which is such a nice way to foster deep connections to community as they grow from little to big kids in a place that continues to celebrate their talent and contributions. What a spectacular day!

This type of community event is so important to Pelham Together because we believe it’s the embodiment of our mission—a community connected, celebrating together what makes this a special place for our children and families. These events require significant resources to pull together. Please consider making a donation today, so that we can continue to create these magical events. And save the date for WinterFest 2022—January 8, 2022!