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By Daniel Curtin
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Members of the Walpole Fire Department were having fun with the community. Photos by Daniel Curtin
The Walpole community came together to listen to music, play some bubble soccer, and enjoy a beautiful evening last Tuesday. The Recreation Department partnered with the Walpole Fire Department to help the town celebrate the first ever National Night Out Day in Walpole. The celebration featured many family-friendly activities to bring the community closer together.
National Night Out Day takes place on the first Tuesday in August. The day’s goal is to promote a strong relationship between community members and those that work to keep the community safe, like first responders. The block party-style gathering brought families out to the baseball field near the Fire Department to take part in different activities while country music resonated through the warm evening.
Kids in attendance got a chance to go inside fire trucks and use the fire hose - with help from members of fire department, of course.
Southbound Train played country music on the field while children and adults played volleyball with a super-sized ball. Attendees also participated in bubble soccer, which seemed equally fun to play as it was to watch.
“I’m usually not a huge country fan, but live music - there is nothing like it,” said Tom Quin, who was sitting in a lawn chair on the grass, listening to the band play. “I think the Recreation Department does and awesome job of bringing in different types of groups - folk, country, rock - and it’s always a pleasant family experience. I just really enjoy it.”
This game of volleyball shows how teamwork really pays off. Photos by Daniel Curtin
In addition to live music, organizers set up a large screen up and presented a movie for people to watch later in the night.
Assistant Director Arielle Carney of the Walpole Recreation Department helped get the event off the ground. Originally from the West Coast, Carney was inspired by her own hometown, which used to celebrate National Night Out Day. She decided to bring the celebration with her to Walpole.
With support from the Walpole Fire Department the night was a roaring success.
“This is meant to be something that grows as the years go on,” reflected Carney. “It’s going to become an annual tradition now.”
