Seventh annual Lantern Walk held at Fellsmere Park

Friends of Fellsmere Heights (FoFH) held its seventh Lantern Walk at Fellsmere Park on August 24, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to dusk. Lanterns were made from recycled bottles. This year participants drew on pre-papered lanterns or chose from lanterns decorated in past years. Because we’re now using LED light strings as a safer way to light up, we even offered a bring-your-own bottle option!

We also offered magic tricks by our Vice President, Bob Doolittle, and face-painting by his daughter, Kate Doolittle. Among those in attendance were Malden Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora, State Representative Paul Donato and Mayor Gary Christenson. The Mayor exercised his creativity by making a lantern, and you can see the results on his Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/mayorofmalden/?hl=en).

All activities were free, thanks to a grant from the Malden Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. The day concluded, as ever, with a walk at dusk around Fellsmere Pond – lanterns twinkling.

FoFH began as a small group of residents on the borders of Malden and Medford in 2015. We have two main purposes: protecting Olmsted-designed Fellsmere Park and Fellsmere Pond and ensuring that the site of the former Malden Hospital is redeveloped to serve the people of Malden and Medford. That redevelopment is currently underway.

FoFH thanks Malden River Works, Friends of the Malden River and the many volunteers who supported this annual event. Please join us next year!