SOUTHWICK — Planning a major celebration is always a challenge. But the town’s 250th birthday, which was supposed to be a year-long spectacle in 2020, must take the cake.

COVID-19 forced the parade and fun fair to be delayed for about a year, from Nov. 7, 2020, to Oct. 16, 2021. Most of the smaller events that were supposed to build up enthusiasm for the parade were canceled outright, or moved online, as victims of social distancing regulations or large-group gathering bans.

“That threw a wrench into our well-developed plans,” recalled James Putnam II, the chair of the committee planning Saturday’s celebration. “Everything was put on hold. It was very disheartening.”

But Putnam said that didn’t dampen the volunteer committee’s enthusiasm for the event. “You make plans, but sometimes you have to adjust,” added Putnam, who some committee members call the “man with a plan.”

The committee was “off and running” with plans for a pub crawl in March 2020 when the town and the state went into lockdown because of the pandemic.

As the months passed and COVID continued to ravage the state and the country, Putnam said he was constantly fielding questions from people wanting to know when events for the celebration would be held. He told them it would happen only when the state and the town said it was OK.

Putnam called it “a very strange experience.” It was also scary. “We could see these storm clouds coming in very fast. It was a downer. We didn’t know what to do, but we knew we had to do something.”

In addition to dealing with the pandemic, things didn’t get any easier when the number of people on the committee also shrank.

“We started out with 25 people. Now we’re down to eight to 10 members. Circumstances changed and things happened that caused some people to drop off the committee,” he said.

But Putnam is an optimist. As last year was drawing to a close, Putnam and the committee decided to do something the lift the spirits of town residents and do something to celebrate the town’s founding. So, on Nov. 7, 2020 — the exact date that the town was incorporated in 1770 — they held a parade. Sort of.

“We legally couldn’t have a parade because people weren’t allowed to congregate,” explained Putnam. Instead, the committee held a “drive around” Southwick. There were about 40 vehicles – police vehicles, fire trucks, and antique cars – that drove throughout town as socially distanced people lined the streets.

“What I will never forget is seeing the smiles on people’s faces – especially the elderly and the kids – as they waved to us,” said Putnam.

The last time Southwick had a big birthday bash was to mark the 200th anniversary of the town becoming independent from Westfield. Putnam said that celebration was a lot different than what the committee has in mind this time around.

“The committee planning the bicentennial celebration didn’t leave us any kind of a blueprint, but it was helpful to have some members on our committee who also served on the committee that planned the 1970 celebration,” said Putnam.

The celebration 51 years ago focused primarily on history.

“They did a good job of historical preservation and left us some great photos,” he said.

Putnam said his committee wanted to come up with a brand-new celebration for the 250th event. The parade will also have a different look to it than the 200th anniversary parade.

“Back then, all the churches in town had a float in the parade,” he noted. “This time around, none of them decided to enter a float.”

With the parade and celebration now just days away, he said the Saturday event will be “a lot of fun” for people.

“We keep adding events – all of which are family-oriented. Our committee is a very creative group. We came up with more ideas than we could do,” he added.

Putnam said all that’s needed now is good weather. “We’re going to charge ahead regardless of the weather. The forecast looks good now, but our celebration will go on rain or shine. It will definitely be a lot more fun if the sun is shining.”

He said one of the reasons he committed to chairing the committee in 2018 is because of his commitment to the concept of community spirit in Southwick. Putnam said one of the important goals of the anniversary committee is to help build on that spirt: “It’s all about a sense of community and history.”

He added that Southwick has a “very colorful” history — from its border dispute with Connecticut, which created the famous “jog” in the state line, to the Farmington Canal that ran through the town, to the ice houses on Congamond Lake.

“I’ll put our Southwick history up against just about any other community,” Putnam said. “This is our opportunity to celebrate our unique history.”

Putnam, a Southwick native and a 1967 graduate of what was then called Southwick High School, said one of the best things for him, personally, about serving on the committee was reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends.

“I got to reconnect with some of my high school classmates and learn what’s happened with them during the past 50 years. And I’ve made some new friends with complete strangers. It’s been a lot of fun,” he said.

Putnam also served as Southwick’s Town Meeting moderator for several years.

After planning the celebration for three years – twice as long as originally envisioned – Putnam said there’s a sense of relief knowing that the finish line is in sight.

“We didn’t have much to do last year with the lockdown. Even as late as August or September, we were worried there might more restrictions that could be imposed and possibly prevent our celebration from happening.”

But he now feels like things are in good shape. “We’ve got a great program planned. We’re ready to have a grand, final celebration. I’m excited about our wonderful parade and the fair afterwards. I think the town will be very pleased.”

Events begin Friday

The Southwick 250 celebration will start Oct. 15, with a drop-in meet and greet at Tucker’s Restaurant, the night before the big parade and fun fair.

All are invited to the informal get-together from 7 to 9 p.m. at Tucker’s, 625 College Highway, Southwick. Out-of-town visitors and returning former residents, in particular, are encouraged to mingle with family, friends and old schoolmates. A cash bar, light appetizers and door prizes will be offered.

The town-wide celebration continues at noon on Oct. 16 with a dedication ceremony for the expanded veterans memorial at Depot Street and College Highway.

The Southwick 250 Grand Parade steps off at 1 p.m. from the Department of Public Works, 661 College Highway. Participants will proceed to Town Hall, 454 College Highway.

After the parade, the Southwick 250 Fair will include food trucks, disc golf, children’s activities, raffle drawings and entertainment at Whalley Park and The Wick 338, on Powder Mill Road. Performances include the Bad News Blues and Jazz Orchestra, 3-4:30 p.m.; the Westfield Wheelmen vintage baseball demonstration, 3:30 p.m.; Resurrection Airmen Country Band, 4:30-6 p.m.; and the Mike and Vinnie Band, 6-7:30 p.m.

The State Police helicopter will visit Whalley Park at 3:30 p.m., and the LifeStar helicopter will fly in at 4:30. Children’s activities throughout the afternoon include pumpkin painting, a bounce pad, a big slide and rides from Commerford & Sons, and free ice cream cones.

The celebration ends with fireworks at 8 p.m. over The Wick 338.