By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Hudson – Ideal summer-like weather June 8 drew throngs of residents and visitors to Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 33rd annual Hudson Community Fest on South Street. Concurrently, Hudson Rotary Club’s 29th annual Skip Conrad Memorial Lucky Duck Race floated along the Assabet River to benefit its scholarship fund and community projects.
Festival-goers browsed 145 vendors and 32 nonprofit organizations. Live entertainment was performed by 11 musical acts on two stages. Appetites were satisfied by a varied food court including Horseshoe Pub & Restaurant.
Elementary school students’ artwork was displayed on Main Street by River’s Edge Arts Alliance at Café 641, Mullahy’s, New City Microcreamery and Serendipity. Rock painting was offered at Serendipity by the cultural arts committee of Hudson Downtown Business Improvement District, Inc.
Meanwhile, Rotarians dumped 2,900 numbered toy ducks into the Assabet River from Washington Street’s PFC Kenneth M. Thibault Memorial Bridge. Ducks floated to the Broad Street Bridge finish line. Ticket buyers of the first five finishing ducks won cash prizes totaling $3,200. A corporate duck competition gave business donors the option to decorate or race a 15-inch decoy. Corporate winners received gift cards.
Avidia Bank and Hudson Rotary Club sponsored the festival with support from several businesses.
The Chamber and Rotarians will partner again for the second annual Touch a Truck to be held Saturday, June 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Morgan Bowl’s parking lot. Parking will be available at Hudson High School.
photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.
