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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
It might sound cruel to send children to school on a Saturday, but none of Westwood’s families minded going to the high school on September 23. The parking lot was not filled with the cars of students and faculty, and school buses were not lined up outside of the high school’s front doors. Instead, a sea of tents and food trucks took over the space while children and their parents hopped aboard a train ride that circled the building. A stage, a rock climbing wall, and a field full of inflatables assured children that they weren’t going to Saturday school.
They were going to Westwood Day.
Parents and children were invited for a ride on the train as it circled Westwood Day.
Eight- and nine-year-old brothers, Kyle and Max O’Shea, battle on the inflatable jousting arena as they celebrate Westwood Day.
Ten-year-old Colin Greally aims for the top of Westwood Day’s rock-climbing tower – just one of the many activities available for children at the festival.
The staff of Westwood Recreation poured their hard work and dedication into the day to ensure that the sixth annual Westwood Day would be the best one yet. The day began with a five-kilometer road race and fun run, and continued throughout the afternoon with face painting, balloon animals, local talent, and a plethora of activities for the whole family.
Nine-year-old Max O’Shea and his eight-year-old brother, Kyle, enjoyed Westwood Day on the inflatables, where they battled on the inflatable jousting area and mastered the bouncy obstacle course. Meanwhile, as children struggled climb to the top of the rock-climbing wall, ten-year-old Colin Greally made it look simple as his careful climbing took him just a few feet from the top of the tower.
Balloons waved through the air and the wildest balloon hats sat atop of children’s heads as kids and their parents weaved through the vendor village with whimsically painted faces. Local businesses and organizations enjoyed the beautiful weather and fine company of the Westwood community as they invited passersby to learn more about them. Three eight-year-old soccer players, Genevieve Varnerin, Meredith Hobson, and Catherine Hartigan, rushed to Westwood Day after their game to enjoy the festivities and receive free bicycle helmets from the Pedestrian Bike and Safety Committee.
Once they worked up an appetite, families headed towards the food trucks and cooled down with slushes, before relaxing with a ride on the train, a walk through the car show, and some pumpkin painting.
Westwood Day is one day of the year that the entire community looks forward to, as the town gathers for a fun and unique festival where Westwood pride can be seen, felt, and heard.
