Terrapinfest To Benefit Veterans

Terrapinfest To Benefit Veterans
Music and merriment to hold sway this weekend at the PACC

‘They have a good time running around and being kids.’ — Elizabeth Leonard, noting that kids are asked to bring their own hula hoops and drums

Katie Landeck
News Staff Writer

GARDNER  What started as an idea between friends who loved music 16 years ago has grown into a local musical festival for all ages.

Back again, Terrapinfest, a local music and vending festival put on by the downtown store Terrapin Traders, will be held at the Polish American Citizen’s Club this Saturday from noon until well after the sun sets.

“We get a lot of people and local bands from all over the state,” said organizer Elizabeth Leonard. “I go to listen to all the bands and I’m always amazed. It’s always a lot of fun.”

This year, there will be 16 bands playing at Terrapinfest, playing folk music, rock and everything in between.

“They’re all very good musicians, all excellent,” Ms. Leonard said. “It’s very impressive.”

In addition to the music, a number of vendors will be set up, selling tie-dye clothing, homemade fudge and brick oven pizza. The PACC will also serve food later into the evening than they have in past years.

The event is kid-friendly, according to Ms. Leonard, who advised people to “bring your hula hoop.”

The event will kick off at noon with a drum circle – bring your own drum – which Ms. Leonard said is a favorite of the kids.

“They have a good time running around and being kids,” she said.

As part of the event, the charity Strangers Helping Strangers will be on hand to collect donations of nonperishable food and personal items, such as toothpaste and paper towels.

Since 1997, Strangers Helping Strangers has hosted food drives at local concerts and festivals around the country and then brings the items to the food bank nearest to the concert venue.

At Terrapinfest, all goods collected will be donated to the food pantry at the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center, Ms. Leonard said.

“I see a lot of veterans coming in and out of there,” she said.

Currently, the bands scheduled to play are Box of Rain, Riptide, Secret Sage, Grin Whistle, The Infernos, Town Meeting, On the Cover, Way Up South, Nikki and Wibble, Route 2 Revolution, Reprobate Blues Band, Some Like It Awesome, Gone in the Rearview, Caleb Wetherbee with Nina Rossi, Cara Keane and the Disclaimers and Dirty Inferno, but the lineup could change.

Admission is $20 at the door, and kids under 12 are free. For more information, call 978-632-4893.