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If you’re not sure what to do this weekend, fear not — it’s Spirit Weekend in Winchester.
“We have a full weekend of events,” said Winchester Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dana Garmey. “There is a lot going on.”
Spirit Weekend came into focus a few years ago, Garmey said. The first year there were fireworks, but fireworks are expensive which requires a lot of fundraising.
“Now in place of fireworks, we put out 1,000 flags,” she said. “They line the race route.”
While Spirit Weekend events start Friday, Sept. 20 and end Sunday night, Sept. 22 with the Winchester Sports Foundation Hall of Fame dinner in Burlington, the entire weekend is anchored around the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation Annual Road Race, and that was no mistake.
Former Select Board member and current Chamber board member Rich Mucci had an idea that the weekend of the road race, which is in its 12th year, could be turned into a full weekend of events aimed at supporting local businesses, Garmey said.
This year, the weekend kicks off Friday night when Main Street and Thompson Street up to the rotary are shut down to vehicular traffic, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., giving residents a chance to stroll the area and visit local businesses without traffic.
Garmey said the first home football game of the season for Winchester High School will also be held Friday, but not before the team marches through town to Knowlton Stadium at McCall Middle School.
“They march through at 5:15,” she said. “There will also be a performance by Winchester’s own Pogo Fred. The kids love Fred.”
Garmey said along with the football team, all local sports teams and organizations will be out and “Spirit Wear” will be for sale.
Saturday starts with Community Connect Day at the Farmers Market, where the town’s non-profits will gather to hand out information and talk to people. At 10 a.m., there will be an unveiling of a new sculpture by Arts Winchester, which will be followed immediately by a walking tour of the Riverwalk.
Garmey said not enough people know about the Riverwalk and its augmented reality feature, “and they should.”
At the walk, visitors are invited to scan a QR code and download the app Hoverlay. Once you have the app, it will allow you to do things like point it at the rear of the library and a full concert will pop up and begin to play. Participants can also point it at the sculptures along the walk and hear from the artists who created the work or hear bird sounds.
“It sounds difficult, but it’s not,” Garmey said.
Saturday’s events will also include story time at Book Ends and the Beer Garden with live music on the Griffin Museum patio. Although it’s called a “beer” garden, Garmey said it is a very family friendly event with plenty of non-alcoholic drinks.
“We encourage kids and even well-behaved dogs at the Beer Garden,” she said. “All of our events are very family friendly.”
Sunday includes the road race with a watch party and a bottomless brunch at A Tavola on Church Street and to cap it all off the Hall of Fame dinner.
“And the whole thing is sponsored by Winchester Savings Bank,” Garmey said, adding she is excited for the weekend. “Every year, it gets a little bigger. Every year, we’re trying to really get more businesses involved … and pray for good weather.”
Below is a complete list of events and websites for more information on individual events. You can also find the list for your mobile devices at Spirit Weekend 2024.
SPIRIT WEEKEND EVENTS
Friday, Sept. 20
Streets are closed Main Street to Thompson Street to the rotary – 4-9 p.m., but businesses are open!
• 5-9 p.m. — “Spirit Wear” on sale, Main and Thompson streets
• 5:15 p.m. — WHS Football Team marches through town to Knowlton Stadium at McCall Middle School
• 5:30 p.m. — Performance by Winchester’s very own World Famous “Pogo Fred” on Main Street
• 6-9 p.m. — Live Music by “Sounds Like Chicken” on Main Street
• 6:30 p.m. — “Friday Night Lights” kickoff with WHS Varsity Football vs. Waltham High School at Knowlton Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 21
• 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. — Community Connect Day at the Winchester Farmers Market at the Town Common
• 10 a.m. — Unveiling of Arts Winchester’s newest sculptures
• 10:30 a.m. — Walking tour of Arts Winchester’s Riverwalk immediately following the unveiling. Meet at the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road
• 11a.m.-12 p.m. — Double feature Storytime with Josh Funk and Jen Morris, Book Ends, 559 Main St.
• 12-2 p.m. — Bib pick-up for Glen Doherty Road Race at Town Hall
• 3-6 p.m. — Beer Garden with Live Music Griffin Museum Patio (rain date is Sunday. Sept. 22)
Sunday, Sept. 22
• 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — Bottomless Brunch Watch Party at A Tavola, 34 Church St.
• 12 p.m. — 12th Annual Glen Doherty 5K/10K Road Race starts from Town Hall, register to run here
• 6 p.m. — Winchester Sports Foundation’s “Hall of Fame” dinner and ceremony at the Burlington Marriott – get your tickets online here.
