The first annual BeaconFest was held on the Andover Village Green on August 13, and what a day it was! The event started with the National Anthem, sung beautifully by Marissa Anne. 

Beacon Vice-Chair Doug Phelps and his band, Diamond Special, kicked off the Naughty Nellie’s music tent and was followed by Absolutely Magic, performed by magician Andrew Pinard. The “ooh’s and aah’s” could be heard for miles! The Ferns, a family band out of Wilmot, with spine-tingling vocals from Mara Ferrin, ended the afternoon. 

More awesome entertainment included baby farm animals from Andover’s own Freedom Farm and the highly anticipated return of the cow patty bingo raffle. Dozens of vendors and crafters lined Main Street, and the Beacon’s advertisers spent hours hosting games for charity.

BeaconFest was originally conceived out of necessity for fundraising but also became the creation of an annual celebration of our wonderful community. A community is so much more than the people and organizations that live within certain real estate, as sometimes defined. Community is fellowship; a sense of place; kindness and generosity towards each other. 

Community is also boiled down to common attributes and interests. A friend of mine recently compared the Beacon to glue. Among all the different personalities within the town of Andover and our surrounding neighbors, the Beacon is the glue that connects us all. It is the unbiased conduit between the lawyer and the teacher, the young and the old. 

With the rebranding and reinvigoration of our local newspaper, we remind each of our readers that the Beacon isn’t ours — it’s yours. BeaconFest was the Beacon‘s tangible way of showing the community this. On Sunday, August 13, BeaconFest brought the entire town together for one day to sing, dance, eat, laugh, and root for your cow patty grid. We are so grateful for your participation, and we cannot wait to begin planning for next year!

The Beacon would especially like to thank the following people:
Gail and Pecco Beaufays

Jenn Bent

Susan Chase

Laura and Lisa DeFazio

Donna Crisp Duclos

Alex Estin

Judy Evans

Les Fenton

AJ Giglio

Tom Hilton
John Kinney

Brian Mackenzie

Ty Morris

Doug Phelps

Adam and Jessica Rand

Julie Rector

Ken Wells
Sue Winters
Laurie Zimmerman

The Beacon is so grateful to our BeaconFest sponsors:
Andover Barn Event Venue

Andover Pizza Chef

Byron’s Septic

Dance Arts Academy

Laura DeFazio, Water Operator

JJ’s Market

JMAC’s Service & Repair
Kearsarge Area Chamber of Commerce

Legacy Mortgage

Naughty Nellies

Peraza Dermatology Group

The Refinery

Ty Morris Real Estate Professional

A special thank you to Kenny Carey of Shadow Lawn Farm and his beautiful cows, Ben and Pete.