Hip harpist Deborah Henson-Conant to perform from firetruck.
The Arlington Heights Community Association, the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture, and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce present the first Spring Fling Festival, set for Saturday, May 21.
Festivities will take place in the Heights business district from 2 to 5 p.m.. Rain date: Sunday, May 22, 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of top-notch live music, activities for children, 50-plus painted storefront windows and more.
Volunteers are needed for this event. Sign up here >>
“Arlington is such a vibrant town and increasingly recognized for its arts, culture and environmental activism,” said organizer Janet O’Riordan. “People in the Heights have been clamoring for more events, and we are delighted to respond with our first spring festival and showcase the wonderful talent and energy in our community.”
Live music will be performed outdoors and indoors. Featured musical guest, jazz harpist Deborah Henson-Conant, will perform on top of a firetruck at the Heights bus depot at 3:30 p.m. This internationally touring musician and Arlington resident is excited to perform for a home crowd.
Other musical performers
Additional accomplished performers include jazz and R&B duo Jeff Robinson on sax and Dave Harris on trombone; acoustic guitarist Melika Fitzhugh and Scottish fiddler Maggie McPhail.
Odaiko New England will give a finale performance of Japanese Taiko drumming in D’Agostino’s parking lot at 4:30 p.m.
Free family-fun activities will take place throughout the afternoon, including Touch-A-Truck, hosted by Arlington’s Fire and Police Departments; “Badger Meets the Fairies,” presented by Margaret Moody Puppets of Arlington; kid’s crafts with artist Tonya Grifkin; and outdoor bean bag and ring toss games.
Visitors of all ages can enjoy viewing more than 50 spring-themed painted windows in 23 businesses and are invited to support our Arlington businesses by dining and shopping locally.
Community organizations
More than a dozen community organizations, from the high school student-led Full Circle Composting to the Swap Shed, will host informational tables offering advice on what you can do to help promote a healthy and sustainable environment. The tables will be situated by the Heights bus depot, 1389 Mass. Ave., and at 1308-1312 Mass. Ave., next to the Heights Pub.
There's more. Meet great horned owl Nuala and Animal Control Officer Diane Welch at the Heights bus depot.
Shop at the Artists Pop-Up Store, featuring the work of four artists at the Roasted Granola Café.
Enter other worlds at ACMi, with floor-to-ceiling green-screen technology in its professional television studio, 85 Park Ave.
Intelligent Labor and Moving of Beck Road, in Arlington, will be showing its electric-powered moving truck at 1308 Mass. Ave. It is the first commercial electric moving truck in the world.
Yoga warm-up
Join us at 1:30 p.m. for a prefestival yoga warm-up with Nicole Siegel at Wonder Yoga, 1305 Mass. Ave.
Drop by D’Agostino’s Delicatessen, 1297 Mass. Ave., for a free T-shirt, starting at 9 a.m. until they last.
Please visit www.arlcc.org for a complete list of participating organizations as well as a schedule of times and locations of all activities.
Free limited parking is available in the Arlington Coal and Lumber parking lot, 41 Park Ave.
Free to all
This festival is free to all, thanks to a prestigious grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the generosity of the following sponsors:
Steve Savarese/Century 21/Adams, Julie Horvath/Century 21Adams, Intelligent Labor and Moving, Workbar, Del’s Lemonade, the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture and the Arlington Heights Community Association.
A warm thanks to the Roasted Granola Café, RepHAIRations and Wonder Yoga for their invaluable support. Thanks also to Arlington Coal & Lumber and D’Agostino’s Delicatessen for loaning their parking lots for the festival.
This news announcement was published Sunday, March 6, 2022, and updated May 9.
