Arts Fest Beverly To Feature Sensory Sensitive Mental Wellness Hub

BEVERLY, MA — This Saturday's Arts Fest Beverly will include a designated Mental Wellness Hub area for children and families with sensory issues and who struggle with loud noises and stimulation in an effort to make the annual event more accessible to city residents and visitors.

Beverly Main Streets is partnering with Mental Makeover on the Mental Wellness Hub that will be located at First Baptist Church at 221 Cabot Street.

Mental Makeover leadership and ambassadors will be there to assist with activities. The Mental Wellness Hub is supported through the Mass Cultural Council's Universal Participation Innovation Fund to plan and implement accessibility systems within organizations.

"Arts Fest Beverly is our signature event and plays a major role in our efforts to build community in Beverly," Beverly Main Streets Executive Director Erin Truex said. "We are excited to offer the Mental Wellness Hub to better support children and families that would like to attend, but might require additional support due to the overwhelming nature of festivals.

"We see this as the first of many opportunities to provide specialized support to members of our community that may need it."

The 21st Arts Fest Beverly will run in Downtown Beverly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday. The event is free and open to the public. It is expected to bring thousands of people to Cabot Street for shopping, live music, food and activities for the whole family.

More than 125 juried artists and crafters will be selling their items alongside local retailers and community organizations.

The event is rain or shine — however, weather forecasts are calling for sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s on Saturday.

A full list of vendors and a performance schedule can be found here.

Residents are reminded that Cabot Street will be closed to regular traffic from Bow Street to the intersection with Judson Street with some side streets closed as well. The closure will run from 7 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Attendees are encouraged to bike or take public transit where possible, as parking will be limited.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)