Overview:
The inaugural Quabbin Days, a four-day festival celebrating the local landscape, history, and culture of the Quabbin region, will take place from October 10-13. The event, which aims to encourage tourism in the area, offers a range of activities including hiking, historical tours, local arts and food, and harvest festivities. The festival is open to the public, and community groups or businesses are invited to add events to the schedule. The event is made possible by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council's Creative Experiences program.
This weekend, The Friends of the Quabbin will host the inaugural Quabbin Days, a four-day festival celebrating the local landscape, history and culture at the peak of New England’s fall foliage.
The event will open with a launch ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, at the Les and Terry Campbell Visitor Center, 100 Winsor Road, Belchertown. Local legislators and invited guests are expected to speak, with Ed Comeau of the Friends of the Quabbin providing an overview of the weekend. The event will run through Oct. 13.
Comeau emphasized that the opening ceremony is meant to be “low-key,” giving the festival a chance to start smoothly.
“It’s gonna be a beautiful day, and I really encourage everybody to attend if they can, visit our website to learn more, and check out the activities happening across the Quabbin Region that weekend,” Comeau said.
Quabbin Days offers a mix of activities across the region, from hiking and historical tours to local arts and food, highlighting what makes the area unique.
There will be hiking at Soapstone Hill in New Salem and Petersham, the Olden School Days event at the Petersham Historical Society, and the Historic Cemetery Ghost Walk in Hardwick. Other offerings include the one-person play “The Flood” at the Clapp Memorial Library, harvest festivities at Stone Cow Brewery in Barre, and the seasonal Belchertown Farmers and Artisans Market.
Participation is open to the public, and community groups or businesses are invited to add events to the schedule. Comeau said the event was made possible by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council’s Creative Experiences program.
“We really appreciate their support,” he added.
“I just love being in the Quabbin all the time, and I want to share that with others.”
Ed comeau
Comeau said the idea for Quabbin Days is one he had been thinking about for several years.
“I brought it to the Friends of the Quabbin Board, and they said, ‘Yep, sounds like a great idea. Go for it,’” he said.
Comeau explained that the festival is designed to encourage tourism in the Quabbin Region, which spans 12 towns in the watershed.
“We’re doing it during a holiday weekend because that’s a prime time for visitors, and we want people to see what’s happening across the area,” he said.
Created in the 1930s, the Quabbin Reservoir is one of the largest man-made public water supplies in the country, serving about 2.7 million people in the Greater Boston area. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the area offers scenic trails, diverse wildlife, and recreational opportunities.
For Comeau, the event is also personal. As a photographer, he spends several days each week in the Quabbin Reservoir shooting landscapes and wildlife. His photos have been featured in local exhibits and calendars.
“I just love being in the Quabbin all the time, and I want to share that with others,” he said.
Looking ahead, Comeau hopes Quabbin Days will become an annual tradition.
“The reaction I’ve been getting from people has been really positive,” he said. “They’re saying, ‘This is a great idea, how come nobody’s ever done it before?’”
Those interested in attending or adding an event can view the full calendar at www.quabbindays.org, or follow updates on Instagram at @quabbindays.