The sun was shining on Westbrook last weekend as thousands of residents and visitors flocked to Riverbank Park for Together Days, the city’s annual kickoff to summer.
Mayor Colleen Hilton said she believes this year’s festival may have seen record-setting crowds.
The two-day gathering, capped by music and fireworks Saturday night, received a push from Mother Nature. Both Friday and Saturday saw sunshine and temperatures in the 80s. The festival usually sees between 15,000-20,000 people over the weekend.
Following the parade Saturday morning, those along Main Street filed into Riverbank Park to get the first taste of the rides, food options, and vendors. By noon, thousands were making their way through the park or keeping cool under a tent in front of the main stage.
Sitting on a bench with her husband was Sue Padilla, a Westbrook resident who said she’s been coming to the festival every year since it began 36 years ago.
“As long as they’ve had it, I’ve been coming,” she said.
Padilla said that even when she lived in New Hampshire for a short time, she would still make the trip north for Together Days.
Padilla’s husband, Barry, said attendance looked “very good,” and that he suspected crowds would also get larger as the event went on into the night.
The annual auction, which originally had been spearheaded by Leona Glidden, kicked off at noon, and was also deemed a success. Hilton said she believed the auction also broke a record.
Also starting at noon Saturday was the live music. Rick Charette and his Bubblegum Band played to a raucous crowd of toddlers and parents sitting in the sun. Prior to the show, the Westbrook Historical Society announced the winners of its annual essay contest.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, Councilor Victor Chau, who helps organize the event and is chairman of the “Run the ‘Brook” 5K event, said he is consistently amazed by the volunteers that pull the festival together.
“The fact that it’s a small amount of people that put on such a large event is amazing,” he said, adding that business sponsors and public services employees, who clean up the park, also deserve thanks.
Chau said the Westbrook-Gorham Community Chamber, which organizes the event, could always use more volunteers, however.
“We start planning for Together Days in January,” he said.
Westbrook’s own Blue Blazes marching band keep the crowd’s energy high with their program on Saturday during the parade. Photos by Heather Bartlett
Bob Boitars, Westbrook Knights of Columbus booth, keeps the heat up while making burgers for the hungry lunch rush at Westbrook’s Together Days 2015.
Together Days regulars, from left, Judy Dunphe, Sue Padilla and Barry Padilla, enjoy a park bench and people-watching during the 36th annual Westbrook festival last weekend. Staff photo by Andrew Rice
As people begin to arrive after the Together Days parade, there are many things to be seen and experienced at Riverbank Park.
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