Arlington Heights Spring Fling Festival

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS Spring Fling Festival
Saturday, May 18 2:00pm-5:00pm (rain date, Sunday, May 19, 2:00-5:00pm)

The Arlington Heights Community Association (AHCA), the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture/ArtsArlington, ArtLinks, and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce are pleased to present the third annual Spring Fling Festival on Saturday, May 18, 2-5pm. Rain date: Sunday, May 19, 2-5pm. Festivities will take place in the Heights Business District (along Mass Avenue from the Bus Depot to D’Agostino’s parking lot) and at the Park Avenue Congregational Church from 2 to 5pm. Enjoy an afternoon of top-notch live music, art, poetry, activities for children, 55+ painted storefront windows and more – all free!

“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 third spring festival and showcase the wonderful talent and energy in our community.” Janet’s collaborator, Cecily Miller of ArtsArlington, added “We introduced the theme of sustainability and environmental stewardship two years ago to celebrate the spring season and Arlington’s amazing community groups. The response has been great, so you can learn about composting, renewable energy, reducing plastic, planting native and much more while exploring the arts and meeting your neighbors.”

LIVE MUSIC will be performed outdoors and indoors by groups with Arlington roots. Featured musical guest is Odaiko New England’s dynamic Japanese Taiko drummers in the D’Agostino’s parking lot from 4:30-5pm. Additional accomplished performers include Jazz and R&B with the Larry Terry Trio outside MyEyeDr from 2:00-3:00. The New Grownups perform folk, pop, country, Blues, Celtic, originals, and Bluegrass at the Bus Depot from 2:30-3:30pm.

FREE FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES will take place throughout the afternoon, including Touch-A-Truck hosted by Arlington’s Fire and Police Departments, Topnotch Contracting, and Intelligent Labor and Moving at the Heights Bus Depot; outdoor bean bag and ring toss games also at the Depot. The Park Avenue Congregational Church, 50 Paul Revere Rd, will host a variety of kids activities including a kid’s crafts activity with artist Tonya Grifkin, a puppet show presented by Margaret Moody Puppets, and scavenger hunts and role-playing activities presented by (LARP) Live Action Role Playing.

Outside ACMi, attendees can meet falconer Diane Welch and her baby owl. Inside ACMi, they are invited to enter other worlds with floor-to-ceiling green-screen technology in ACMi’s professional television studio, 50 Park Ave.

PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT: 26 community organizations and businesses from the high school student-led Full Circle Composting to Electrify Arlington, Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathways Group, and Mothers out Front will host informational tables offering advice on what you can do to help promote a healthy and sustainable environment. The tables will be located in three locations: by the Heights Bus Depot, 1389 Mass Ave, 1308-1312 Mass Ave (next to the Heights Pub) and in front of ACMI Studio, 85 Park Ave.

POETRY CELEBRATION: “The Neighborhood of Earth” – showcasing diverse voices of local poets organized by Arlington’s Poet Laureate Jean Flanagan and hosted by Arlington poet and educator Jessie Brown. Some of the poems were originally collected for “I Will Be Earth: The Poetry of Nature,” the May performance by Cantilena, a women’s chorale. Meet talented poets of all ages reading at the Roasted Granola Café, 1346 Mass Ave.

ARTS ON VIEW: Local arts leader and artist Lidia Kenig-Scher has developed a visual arts component: “Festival goers can watch two artists at work during Plein Air Painting Demonstrations; the community reaction to live painting has been fantastic so I wanted to bring it to this great neighborhood celebration.” Artist Michelle Mendez will be painting in front of the Locke School Condominium, 88 Park Avenue, and artist Olha Brieus at 1306 Mass Ave (near Heights Pub) from 2-5pm. In addition, Kenig-Scher has facilitated an exhibition showcasing the work of three artists: Nayma Islam, paintings; Kathryn Dodgson, ceramics, and Lauren Palmer-Merrill, fiber arts and mixed media art in front of ACMI, 85 Park Ave.
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Enjoy viewing 55+ spring-themed painted windows in 26 business storefronts.
Free limited parking is available in the Arlington Coal and Lumber parking lot, 41 Park Ave.

For more info about schedule of events, location of activities, and a list of participating organizations visit:
https://business.arlcc.org/events/details/arlington-heights-spring-fling-festival-2024-4444

Volunteers are needed for this event. Sign up at:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BAFAF2CA7F58-48930722-arlington

This festival is free to all, thanks to a prestigious grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the generosity of the following sponsors: Arlington Heights Community Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Senne Residential, and Wonder Yoga.

A warm thanks to the Town of Arlington, Park Avenue Congregational Church, Intelligent Labor & Moving, the Roasted Granola Café, and all the storefront businesses hosting window painting for their invaluable support – it takes a village!

Thanks also to Arlington Coal and Lumber and D’Agostino’s Delicatessen for loaning their parking lots for the festival.
All graphic design work (posters, signs, flyers) is donated by Rob Davidson, an accomplished professional designer who lives in the neighborhood.
This event was organized by the Arlington Heights Community Association (AHCA), the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture/ArtsArlington, ArtLinks, and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce