Big turnout for West Newbury Summer Festival events

Bernie Marvin

Banner carriers, at right and left, Elsie and Alison Kidder parade proudly in the before noon sunlight as they are flanked by others in the lead unit of the Summer Fest Parade. Seen at left are two baby eagles, Tucker and Burke as they circle about the group. Their mom, Betsy Blake created the parade banner and dad, Cortney Blake, are with them. The Blake family lives in West Newbury and Betsy have been making the parade banners for at least 10 years. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

West Newbury, VT – On Saturday morning, August 8, 2026, you could hear the happy laughter of the kids, the neat drumrolls of the Summertime Marching Band, and the rumbles from those bright red Newbury Fire Department trucks as they rolled up Tyler Farm Road in another grand parade announcing that the West Newbury Summer Festival was in town.

And indeed, it was. From their usual huge White Elephant Sale and Silent Auction to the pulled-pork sandwich lunch, there was a day of warm-weather activity throughout the West Newbury Hall and church area.

There was plenty of activity on the perfect summer day. Throughout the area, visitors enjoyed the vendor booths, listening to several political candidates chat with voters, and hearing some great music by the group Counting by Sevens during the picnic session.

An interesting historical exhibit by the Newbury Historical Society was enjoyed at the one-room schoolhouse just down the road from the Hall.

Cathy Kidder told The Bridge Weekly that “this year was remarkable for the amount of buy in from our larger community. The three trucks from Newbury Fire Departments came, Newbury Women's Club, Newbury Recreation Committee, local Indivisible and Third Act Chapters, six candidates for House Rep and Senate, Court Street Arts, Clara Martin, EC Fiber, Old Church Theater Summer Youth Troupe all came, to join our regulars: the Summertime Marching Band from many points north, Window Dressers, Tenney Library, Wells River Savings Bank, and local makers and producers.”

And then there was “the tremendous support from local businesses and individuals for Silent Auction donations. We grossed over $9,200, but even better, the Festival brought together people and organizations from a wider area, working together for a common goal: to keep the West Newbury Hall a place where community is celebrated and, with our new elevator, a place that is truly open to all.”