Hadley common to host ninth annual NEPM Asparagus Festival

May 30, 2023 | Bill Zito
bzito@thereminder.com

HADLEY — The Town Common becomes all things asparagus on June 3 for the New England Public Media Asparagus Festival. Now in its ninth year, the family-focused event offers more than 100 local vendors providing food, beer, wine and cider as well as agricultural crafts and exhibits.

Three bands will take the stage throughout the day, providing live music as a backdrop for the abundance of activities and attractions.
Amidst its working farms and numerous driveway stands offering freshly grown greens, Hadley and Western Massachusetts have often been unofficially tagged “the asparagus capital of the world.”

Returning last season after a two-year lapse, this year’s festival will be hosting PBS Kids characters Curious George and Molly of Denali who will be available for photos. Among the local favorites on hand will be trilingual artist and performer Mister G and the Global Citizen Ensemble.

Last year’s return saw between 7,000 and 8,000 visitors during the course of the day, according to Vanessa Cerillo with New England Public Media.

“This year we’re expecting a similar crowd size, we have great bands lined up with so much good local food,” she said. “All of our food trucks are encouraged to use asparagus in at least one of their dishes so there’s a lot of variety there including the ever-popular fried asparagus,” she boasted.

“It comes with a great dipping sauce and it’s made by Esselon, right in Hadley, next to the Town Common,” she added.

The Beers and Spears tent will pour ciders, wines and brews from nearly a dozen makers around the region to go alongside the multiple food choices from popular Western Massachusetts cookeries.

For those with eclectic tastes the well-known asparagus ice cream, offered by Flayvors of Cook Farms, the originators of the unique frozen treat, will be available. More than 50 farmers and vendors will be on hand to show off their best of the day.

Music will be provided by local band Soul Magnets along with musical acts The Wolff Sisters and Poor Monroe.

New to the festival this year, a live noon broadcast of the NEPM radio show, “The Fabulous 413” with hosts Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith using the celebratory event as a background.

A relaxing break area where the kids, big and small can sit and take in some PBS programming on a big screen will be set up in a comfortable, shaded part of the green.

Cerillo said of course there will be plenty of asparagus for sale at the festival.

“There’s nothing better than the fresh stuff and there’s an abundance of it, it seems this year,” she added.

The free admission for all festival runs from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. and preregistration is available to avoid the line at the gate. Donations of $5 per person or $20 per family are suggested to support public media in Western Massachusetts.

Those traveling by bicycle are encouraged to ride to the event on the Norwottuck Rail Trail and take advantage of the free MassBike bicycle valet service.

There is more information available at www.nepm.org/nepm-events.
Editor’s note: Reminder Publishing is a sponsor of this event.

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