Pepperell enjoys Summer Fest

PEPPERELL — The inaugural Summer Fest that took place in town over the weekend drew hundreds of people who fully enjoyed the family friendly community affair.

Bouncy houses, axe throwing, face painting, balloon creations and raffles were part of the Aug. 15 affair held at the town field that is slated to be an annual tradition.

The Celebrate Pepperell committee planned the festival that also included Live Action Role Playing courtesy of Realm, one of the oldest LARP systems in New England, live music by Billy and the Jets, and whole lot more.

Several food trucks and food options offered hamburgers, tacos, hot dogs, egg rolls, lemonade, cotton candy and fried dough, and a fundraiser run by The Friends of Col. William Prescott Statue Committee enabled attendees to put someone in “jail” for $5, and where they would stay for a certain amount of time or you could bail them out for an additional $5.

An epic laser show featuring vibrant colors set to music rounded out the evening, prompting people of all ages to dance along and cheers erupted from the crowd upon the finish.

Celebrate Pepperell posted on social media after the well-attended event, thanking “everyone who came out and supported” Pepperell Summer Fest. “It was wonderful to see so many families, friends, and community members enjoying the evening. There were smiles throughout the event, and we hope everyone had a great time!” they shared, adding in “a big thank you” to the Billy Joel and Elton John cover band “for providing an incredible night of music” as well as “to all of our food trucks, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the event possible.”

“You all played a big part in making Summer Fest a success!” the post stated. “The … [committee] will be getting together in the coming weeks to review the event, hear your feedback, and discuss plans for future events. One of our goals is to make Summer Fest an annual Pepperell tradition, and we look forward to seeing where we can take it from here!”

Celebrate Pepperell committee member and town resident Thomas Hawkins echoed those sentiments, calling Summer Fest “a tremendous success, with strong attendance, positive feedback from the community, and busy vendors throughout the day.”

“We would like to thank everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored, participated, and helped make Pepperell Summer Fest 2026 such a success,” he said, adding that they look forward to seeing everyone again next August.

Hawkins reported that Billy and the Jets was a big hit, “creating an energetic and festive atmosphere throughout the evening,” and that “the family activities were also extremely popular, [and] the adult activities were equally well received.”

“Axe throwing and Velcro archery gave many attendees an opportunity to try something they had never experienced before,” he said. “Several people commented that it was their first time throwing an axe and that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

He went on to say that “as darkness fell, the Encore Laser Show provided a spectacular finale and was very well received by the community” and the surprise visit from MedFlight — whose helicopter landed at Comiskey Field — gave locals “the unique opportunity to see the helicopter up close, explore the inside, and speak with the crew while learning more about their important work.”

Hawkins said the Celebrate Pepperell committee would like to extend “a special thank you” to the festival’s premier sponsor, Main Street Bank, “for its generous donation to help offset the cost of the event.”

“Their support helped the committee keep Summer Fest affordable while providing a great day of entertainment and activities for the community,” he said.

With the success of this year’s event, the committee is already looking ahead to Summer Fest 2027, which is planned for the middle of August. The committee will begin meeting again next week to brainstorm ideas and start planning for next year’s celebration and some of the themes currently being floated around for future festivals include a Hawaiian luau or a country-themed Summer Fest.

“No final decision has been made, as the committee will continue discussing ideas in the coming meetings,” Hawkins said. “The goal is to keep the event fresh and exciting each year while giving the community something to look forward to and encouraging everyone to make Summer Fest an annual tradition.”