Festival Is What
Life Should Be

Kudos to Becky McMeekin and her crew for putting on yet another mind-blowing New World Festival. Somehow, they did it again.

The New World Festival is one of a few remarkable things people luck into upon moving to Randolph. I remember I couldn't believe my good fortune when, having read about it in the paper, I bought a ticket and found myself swept into this absolutely enchanting vortex of music and dance.

I recall literally thrilling for hours and hours, and that hasn't worn off in subsequent years. It's held on a busy weekend and every Labor Day Sunday I think of 15 people I should have convinced to drop their plans and come to Randolph.

Truly, the NWF is as captivating an entertainment event as any I've experienced, and at 12 hours long it's a lot of bang for your entertainment buck. I feel excitement from the moment the wrist band is sealed until the final dance band gives us its last encore, begged for by the sweating masses. There are so many spectacular things going on in the five venues that I race from performance to performance trying not to miss anything. Which is impossible.

It seems in some way that the New World Festival is how life should always be. It really is too good to be true and I am horribly depressed the day after by a lone tent stake left here, a crushed party hat there, worse than any day after Christmas. Gigantic thanks to McMeekin, music-master Kevin Dunwoody, et al, and whoever cooked up the idea in the first place. Brilliant, all of you!

Ann Aikens

Randolph