[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
By Lisa Moore
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
The July Jubilation Sidewalk Sale, one of the biggest annual family events in Wellesley, was held on Saturday, bringing crowds of families into Wellesley Square looking for bargains, food, and family fun. The warm summer day brought out crowds of people who strolled along Central Street, enjoying free Italian ices, as they shopped for bargains, and listened to music provided by DJZ-Tunes. This special event is more than just a sidewalk sale - it brings together members of the community, local artists, merchants, and members of the police and fire departments for a fun-filled day.
There were plenty of bargains to be found as many merchants brought their goods outside, lining the sidewalks and street with their merchandise. While parents shopped, there were several fun events for the kids, who enjoyed jumping in the bounce house, having their faces painted, and being entertained by magic shows and bubble-making, in addition to other live entertainment.
A highlight of the event was a free money giveaway. People waited in line for a chance to step inside a “Money Booth” where they had 20 seconds to grab cash as the bills were blown around the booth by a high-powered fan. Wellesley College student Mary Kate Dornon walked away with $17 dollars. Her and her fellow classmates, Ruby Ye and Sara Eslami were all smiles as they strolled down Central Street enjoying the event. “I love this event. I come every year,” said Ye.
One patron called the event a “whimsical shopping day”, and the carnival-like atmosphere - complete with a petting zoo, mimes, stilt walkers, clowns, and magicians - made for a jubilant summer day. Bethany Vasconcellos of Lux Bond and Green was excited to see the crowds at her first July Jubilation, declaring with a smile, “It has been a very busy day!” While some merchants experienced an influx in shoppers owed to the increased foot traffic, others felt the crowds were smaller than in years past. All agreed, however, that the event was great for the town.
Both the Wellesley Fire Department and the Wellesley Police Department were at the event reaching out and connecting with the community. Members of Wellesley Police department were on hand letting kids explore the inside of a police cruiser, and Sue Webb, Wellesley Animal Control Officer, was on hand with Suki, an 18 month old Bloodhound. Suki is trained for scent discrimination and was donated to the Wellesley Police Department by the Jimmy Ryce Foundation to assist in searching for and finding missing children. The Jimmy Ryce Foundation places scent discrimination dogs like Suki in police departments in all 50 states, and was established in honor of Jimmy Ryce, a nine-year-old Florida boy that was abducted and killed by a sexual predator in 1995.
Members of the Wellesley Fire Department were on hand along with Smokey the Bear and The Smokehouse, to teach youngsters how to respond to a fire in their home. They also had a “Fill the Boot” campaign to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation. Volunteers sold popcorn and snacks and sat in a dunk tank, where people paid money to try and dunk the firefighters, with the proceeds going to help “Jerry’s Kids”.
Wellesley Square Merchants Association July Jubilation once again provided a great family day out. Thanks to the many participating merchants and community members, Wellesley residents were treated to another wonderful town event that brings the community together.
