HopNews
Hopkinton families will have another chance to gather, play, and connect when Family Day returns Saturday, Sept. 19. Friends of Hopkinton will host the event at the Hopkinton High School athletic fields.
Activities will run from 3 to 7 p.m. Fireworks are expected around 8 p.m. The rain date is Saturday, Sept. 26.
A Community Tradition
Friends of Hopkinton is an all-volunteer nonprofit. The group works to build town spirit, pride, and enthusiasm through community events. Family Day is its signature September gathering.
I spoke with Pat O’Brien, vice president of Friends of Hopkinton, to get some insight about the origins of the popular Family Day. “It started in 2017. It grew out of the town’s 300th anniversary celebration and became one of the main projects of the Friends of Hopkinton,” O’Brien said.
The group holds two community events each year. Family Day became the larger event. The second gathering changed over time. It has included a ham-and-bean dinner, karaoke, Family Fling, and last year’s Fire & Light program.
Free Activities For All Ages
The Friends of Hopkinton website describes Family Day as a community day with live entertainment, games, activities, food trucks, and fireworks. Local organizations, nonprofits, clubs, and businesses will offer activities for residents.
Planned attractions include a dunk tank, face painting, henna tattoos, balloon art, children’s entertainment, and roaming performers. A magician, the Hopkinton cheerleaders, princess characters, and the Post Road Chorus are also part of this year’s program, according to O’Brien.
The event will also feature a new flower bar. Trader Joe’s is donating flowers for the activity. Visitors can use them to make small bouquets.
The group says all activities are free. Food trucks are the exception. Visitors will pay for their food purchases.
More Entertainment, Less Downtime
Organizers plan to add a second stage this year. The change will keep the program moving while crews reset the main stage between larger acts.
Heart Acoustics will headline the evening entertainment. The band will perform before the fireworks. Smaller acts will use the second stage throughout the afternoon.
The fireworks remain one of the event’s biggest draws. Families can spend the afternoon at the fields and stay for the show after sunset.
A Townwide Effort
Family Day depends on more than one organization. The Department of Public Works helps with tables, cones, barricades, setup, and cleanup. The police and fire departments bring equipment and personnel. The YMCA lends picnic tables. School staff help prepare the fields.
Volunteers also run booths, recruit dunk-tank participants, support performers, and help families navigate the event. O’Brien said the event reflects the work of many local partners.
“It really does take a village,” O’Brien said.
The shared effort gives Family Day its distinct character. Residents can enjoy entertainment and activities. They can also meet the people and organizations that help make Hopkinton a connected community.
Mark Your Calendar
Family Day will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Hopkinton High School athletic fields. Fireworks are expected around 8 p.m. Organizers will use Saturday, Sept. 26, as the rain date.
For updates and participation information, visit friendsofhopkinton.org.
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