A gift from super Walking Tour groupie Ruth and her husband, T-shirts to celebrate the 2019 walking tour.
And so it begins. After nearly a year of preparation, the first free concert of the Massachusetts Walking Tour is done.
A full room with folks lined up along the edges, eager to enjoy the first concert at Holliston Public Library
A full house, standing room only, at the Holliston Public Library was filled with music, stories from the trail, laughter, sing-alongs, wiggly, playful children, and lots and lots of smiles. Special thanks to Library Director Leslie McDonnell,who not only worked with us throughout the year, writing a letter of support for a grant that was provided by the Holliston Cultural Council, confirming details of the visit. She also baked cookies and shared fruit with hungry visitors!
Musician/artist Dan Blakeslee kicked off the musical offerings. Dan is a talented artist, the creator of each year’s poster for the Massachusetts Walking tour.
Guest musicians filled the first hour of the concert with their own special music,
Dan & Faith walked with the Walking Tour folks on their first day, and shared music at the concert in Holliston
Tom Smith recalled life in a slower time
More music!
then made way for the traveling troupe. Prior to the concert I saw multiple helpers,
Raianne helps Mark get his shoulders relaxed before the show
providing massage, suggestions for stretches, and plans to make adjustments in backpacks.
Mark and Cello enjoying each other’s company
This was all before they went on stage. And once in front of the audience, all this was set aside.
Ready to play!
The focus was on those who had made their way to the library for a fun evening.
Afterwards, everyone packed up, and headed on their way. The audience back to their homes, the musicians to their host family for the night, with a bonfire planned. And then, a night under the stars. Onward to the Millis Library by foot for the musicians, and any other mode of transportation for the rest of us. Hope to see you there.
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Finding the Sacred in Everyday (and some very strange) Places.
She has been a freelance writer for numerous local, regional, and national publications for the past 20+ years, has helped numerous families to save their stories, and has recorded multiple veterans oral histories, now housed at the Library of Congress. She is a co-author of the recent community history, Bellingham Now and Then.
Marjorie Turner Hollman 