Norwood Day Coming Up Next Saturday

NORWOOD, MA - Norwood Day is returning next weekend, continuing a 17-year tradition of festivities along Washington Street that was paused last year because of the pandemic.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, there will be some modifications. But there will be a number of fun activities, as well as a tribute to recently deceased Assistant Town Manager Bernie Cooper, who served the town for nearly a half century.

Buttons for admission to Norwood Day are currently on sale at the Norwood Civic Center at 165 Nahatan St. for $3 before the event and for $5 on the day of the event. They are sold Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Cooper is the first person to be memorialized on a button.

"As many people have said, Bernie was Mr. Norwood," said Recreation Director Travis Farley. "So what other way to honor his legacy than have him on the 2021 Norwood Day Button. Well deserved!"

One dollar from every button purchased will go to one of Cooper's favorite local charity organizations, the Norwood Circle of Hope Foundation. The nonprofit assists Norwood residents who have experienced a catastrophic medical experience.

The button includes admission to the traditional activities of Norwood Day, including pony rides, a rock climbing wall, an interactive water game and amusement rides. More than 200 vendors will be participating at the event.

Cooper is also the posthumous recipient of the Anne Lydon Award as the town's volunteer of the year. It will be presented to the family by former Town Manager John Carroll.

On the eve of Norwood Day, Friday fireworks will start at dusk at the Coakley Middle School athletic fields at 1315 Washington St., said Farley. The free event, beginning at 6:30, will include music, dancing and a concession stand.

"We usually do a roaming railroad and inflatables before the fireworks but we have decided to eliminate those high points of contact this year," he said. "As you can imagine, trying to cram 5,000 to 8,000 people into a couple of inflatable slides and trains would have been a challenge to keep sanitized."

On Saturday, vendors and restaurants will line Washington Street with samples of their goods. There usually is a food tent, but due to the pandemic, there were concerns from the food vendor as well as the Norwood Day Committee, according to Farley.

He noted that this provides an opportunity to support local restaurants that are bouncing back after the constraints of the pandemic.

An estimated 16,000 people attended Norwood Day in 2019, despite starting off with inclement weather.