Festival on the Hill

Once again, the weather gods worked in our favor and the 50 th annual Festival on the Hill was met with a beautiful October day. Thanks to a lot of hard work all year long on behalf of a whole lot of people, and a fair amount of last-minute magic on behalf of a few, the 2004 festival nearly doubled last year’s number of arts, crafts, and vendor booths; featured an expanded children’s section, complete with ponies; and tallied record gross revenues of over $15,000. In true FOH fashion many of the details were worked out on the morning of October 9, and in true FOH fashion, everyone in the end had a wonderful time—booth keepers stuck with less-than-prime real estate and frazzled festival coordinators included.

The Festival on the Hill is one of Bolton Hill’s richest and most enduring traditions. While on its face it is a fundraiser that splits net proceeds down the middle for the neighborhood and Memorial Church—more than $6,000 each, thanks to this past year’s efforts—it amounts to much more. If any single neighborhood event or aspect reflects the best of this community, and captures the spirit that brings and keeps so many of us here, it is this day in mid-October. As Bolton Hill has grown, so has the festival; and as the neighborhood changes, so goes the festival. That said, let us all keep kicking around new strategies and ideas for keeping the festival vibrant in years to come.

If you are interested in having a craft or vendor booth or would like to get involved, please contact the church office.