A Founder’s Day Preview

Tomorrow’s event is the biggest celebration of the year for Saugonians. It’s a day the town celebrates with pride

By Mark E. Vogler

A stage was already set up below the front steps of Saugus Town Hall earlier this week, and numerous town employees from multiple departments were putting the finishing touches on the biggest town-wide celebration of the year – Founder’s Day – which gets underway at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 14)

“Founder’s Day is a great tradition that many current and former Saugonians look forward to each year,” Town Manager Crabtree said in a statement this week, announcing the details of a fun-filled tradition dating back to 1979 that brings residents together each September to celebrate Saugus pride.

“I hope to see a big turnout for this can’t miss date that is a big part of what makes Saugus a special community to call home,” Crabtree said.

The main event – the awarding of the “Persons of the Year” plaques – will take place in a brief ceremony in front of Town Hall at about noon. The award became a key part of Saugus Founders Day in 1989. In 1993, separate awards were presented to a woman and a man selected for the honor. During the 35 years that the award has been presented (Nobody was honored during two years of COVID-19), there have been 62 honorees. The plaque is inscribed with this tribute: “In Recognition of Your Dedication to The Town of Saugus. This Award Truly Exemplifies the Outstanding Ideals and Spirit of Our Founding Fathers. THE TOWN OF SAUGUS SALUTES YOU.”

Saugus Center is expected to draw hundreds of residents and visitors tomorrow. Visitors will have the opportunity to check out more than 100 tables set up outside Saugus Town Hall and continuing far down Central Street. Booths will feature vendors selling handmade crafts and items, as well as local civic groups distributing information to keep Saugonians informed about important issues and what’s going on around town. Saugus youth organizations and school groups will manage 10 booths that offer a wide range of food items, with proceeds from sales helping to pay for student activities over the course of the year. Other student-run booths will focus on fun by offering numerous games, a dunk tank, pie-in-the-face, fast pitch, sink a basketball shot, balloon pop and much more.

“This is an amazing community event that every Saugonian should attend,” said the announcement posted on the town’s Youth and Recreation Department website. “It’s a great way to end the summer, and to get out and see some familiar faces. Local vendors will be there selling their handmade crafts & products, and businesses will be handing out information. You can even get your flu shot! Money spent in the food court & the fun area will be donated back to the youth organizations that are sponsoring each item. Many school & youth groups will also be selling raffle tickets and team spirit merchandise. Founder’s Day is one of the biggest fundraising events for these organizations, so it is a great way to help them out. It will be a wonderful day to celebrate Saugus!”

DJ Claffey of Spin’n Tunes DJ Services will provide the music entertainment from the entrance of Town Hall. The New Friends of the Saugus Public Library will hold a book sale in the community room that runs concurrent with Founder’s Day. The library will be closed, but the public can access the book sale via the Taylor Street entrance.

Youth & Recreation Department Director Crystal Cakounes and Youth & Recreation Program Coordinator Emily Grant spearheaded the effort to organize the Founder’s Day festivities. Town Manager Crabtree thanked all of the town employees and volunteers whose contributions make Founder’s Day such a big success, including those from the Youth & Recreation Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Building Maintenance, Health Department and the Solid Waste/Recycling Department.

The Founder’s Day entertainment schedule for the stage in front of Saugus Town Hall will be as follows:

  9 a.m.: flag raising;

  9:15 to 9:45 a.m.: Tiger Institute Tae Kwon Do;

  10 to 10:45 a.m.: MICA Dance Group;

  11 a.m. to noon: Theatre Company of Saugus;

  Noon to 1 p.m.: Persons of the Year ceremony;

  1:15 to 2:45 p.m.: Memory Laners.