Sun, pool and outdoor movies on the big screen.
New Ipswich’s first annual Summer Fest is kicking off the season on Saturday with all the best hallmarks of summer.
Similar to the town’s longer-established Autumn Fest, Summer Fest will have games encompassing the season, as well as local vendors, said New Ipswich Recreation Director Mindy Buxton in an interview Tuesday.
But it will also have some events special to this festival – including access to the town pool for the first time this season.
Along with the typical festival vendors and games for kids, there will also be a bouncy house and slide. And kids and adults alike can indulge their fascination with big machines with various excavators, loaders, and trash compactors that will be available for them to explore.
If the weather is hot, residents will be able to cool down with some shaved ice from the Kona Ice truck, or take a dip in the pool from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Once the festivities wind down, the festival will cap off with a summer family movie night on the big screen set up next to the pool.
The movie will be the first of a summer movie series sponsored by the Recreation Department.
Sign ups for the youth soccer league and swim lessons will be available during the festival.
The festival will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Memorial Field, followed by the movie night from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Memorial Park is currently undergoing some updates to its baseball and basketball facilities.
The basketball courts have recently been re-sealed. In August, the Recreation Department plans to continue the 3-on-3 tournament started last year in the name of Bob Gammel, with proceeds going to continuing maintenance of the basketball courts.
The Bordertown Baseball league is currently constructing a new storage space and announcer’s booth on the lower field for use by the Little League.
Dugouts on the Babe Ruth field will also be replaced this year.
Also on the Babe Ruth field, the fencing is expected to be extended this year to improve spectator safety. The cost is about $900.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaari MLT.