Today’s Summer Festival of diverse, ethnic contributions to the city’s multi-cultural nature is in sharp contrast to the more limited, private celebrations observed individually by unique groups within the city’s wide and varying landscape. In this way, for instance, the Greek community from neighborhoods near Market St. could celebrate their successes among themselves while French-Canadian families in Lower Centralville, Little Canada, and others in Pawtucketville might be celebrating their own joyous events but also in their own private space.
The same was also held for other ethnic groups within the city. For instance, the Poles, Portuguese, Russian-Jews, and the Romanians also had their own, special days in the sun, however, an attitude of citywide community and open sharing of good fortune seemingly happened only after the city was named a National Park in 1978. This transition had been preceded by “Model Cities” (1968 – 1972), which, also, had increased the feeling that “we are all in this together” as a community.
It only takes a little imagination to get the program on the road! Good luck!
