May 10, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
Springham, a lively outdoor music festival celebrating Hingham, will feature fun for all ages -- from live performances and children's activities to a biergarten and wine tasting -- on Saturday, May 21, from 2 to 7 p.m. in the heart of Hingham Square. Downtown merchants and restaurants will offer Springham specials.
The event is presented by the Hingham Historical Society and the Hingham Downtown Association.
"We like to think of this event as the official kick-off to Spring in Downtown Hingham," HHS Executive Director Deirdre Anderson told the Hingham Anchor. "We have such wonderful shops and restaurants, and this is a chance to welcome our community to Downtown Hingham and bring people together, support our local merchants, and see familiar faces."
As background, in 2020, the Historical Society introduced a six-week concert series in Downtown Hingham aptly named, "Springham." Anderson came up with the concept as a way to bring people to Downtown Hingham and celebrate community as restrictions began to loosen with the pandemic.
"The idea was to welcome people back to Hingham Square after the very long two-plus years we had just experienced. It proved to be a great success and something the Society now hopes to make an annual event," Anderson said. "This year we are thrilled to welcome Springham back as a one-day-only music festival. Last year's Springham was well-received by the community, and we think that condensing it down to one day with multiple performers will really help make it a big celebration."
Families and individuals are free to stop by for a while or stay all day. "Music will be heard everywhere as guests visit the Downtown shops, dine at the restaurants, and grab a cone at Nona's!" Anderson said.
The afternoon will feature fun family activities, including T-shirt decorating, crafts, Colonial games, and face painting as well as a Vitamin Sea Brewing Biergarten behind the Hingham Heritage Museum at 34 Main St.
"Guests will be able to purchase some of the delicious, inspired beer selections from Vitamin Sea, all while enjoying live music in beautiful Hingham Square," Anderson said. "We are very excited about the lineup of performers this year, which includes local favorites Take Out, Raw Generic, Tumbleweed, Peter Mundt, and Austin Lyne."
The outdoor stage will be set up under the flagpole at the front of the Hingham Heritage Museum.
Adding to the festivities, Ralph's Hingham Wine Merchant will host a "Grand Wine Tasting" from 2 to 5 p.m.
The Historical Society is partnering with the Hingham Downtown Association this year for Springham "with the hope of really getting the local businesses and restaurants involved in the festivities," Anderson said.
As a result, Springham will also feature a festive shopping experience in Downtown Hingham. Merchants will showcase their spring and summer merchandise on the sidewalks and display racks and creatively arranged tables as well as offer Springham specials, gift-with purchases, and promotions.
"It will be a great way for customers to browse both new arrivals and last season's bargains while spending time outdoors and celebrating Springham," HDA Executive Director Lynn Barclay told the Hingham Anchor.
Downtown restaurants will be offering Springham drink and menu specials.
”We are so thrilled to partner with the Hingham Historical Society to bring this outdoor concert event to downtown Hingham," she said. "We invite the community to come and spend the day and to enjoy live music, shopping, dining, reconnecting with neighbors and friends, and rediscovering what’s new downtown.”
The Historical Society is sponsoring the musicians. "We are so grateful to the performers for their support of Downtown Hingham and for joining us on a Saturday afternoon during prime events season," Anderson said. "We are also grateful to the Hingham Anchor for its support in helping spread the word about this wonderful community event again this year."
The Heritage Museum will be open during Springham, and guests will have the opportunity to view the current exhibition, "Polly Thayer Starr: Nearer the Essence," for a $5 Springham Day special.
The hope is that Springham will bring people together, outside, "in a fun and festive way, all while supporting the Downtown businesses, and also that this event might generate interest among those attending to join the Hingham Historical Society as members," Anderson said.
For more information about the Historical Society, visit www.hinghamhistorical.org. To learn more about the HDA, go to https://discoverhingham.com/