Rockland's Fall Festival Returns with New Attractions on October 5

Event to feature local breweries, live music, and expanded activities including kids' pavilion and art demonstrations

ROCKLAND, MA - September 17 - Rockland's annual Fall Festival is set for Oct. 5 with an expanded lineup of attractions, while town officials explore a potential relocation of the Recreation Department that could save taxpayers millions.

The Fall Festival, scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m., will showcase local breweries including Players, Black Hat Brewing, and Break Rock. Jeanne Blaney, Rockland’s Recreaction Director, told the Select Board, "We have close to 40 vendors now participating."

New additions to this year's event include a kids' pavilion at Town Hall and live art demonstrations coordinated by the Rockland Cultural Council. "Rockland Cultural Council is actually meeting tonight. But, they're going to have their own special area so that their artists can do demonstrations," Blaney explained.

Live music will feature bands such as "The band with no name" and “Dogmatics”, with performances scattered throughout the festival grounds. Organizers plan to provide event schedules and location information via QR codes and posted lists.

The Select Board approved one-day liquor licenses for the festival, with a rain date set for Oct. 6.

In other town business, officials are exploring the possibility of relocating the Recreation Department to Esten School, a move that could result in significant cost savings compared to a previously considered leased space.

Town Administrator Doug Lapp outlined the potential benefits of the relocation during the Select Board meeting. "There's a real synergy with having the recreation department with all the programming they do with youth at the same site as the Esten School," Lapp said.

The plan involves partnering with the school department to use existing facilities such as the gymnasium, cafetorium, office, and library for community center activities after school hours and during summers. A modular building for daycare and recreation offices is also being considered.

Lapp emphasized the financial advantages of the move, stating, "We can save literally millions of dollars in taxpayer funding and not have to pursue that privately leased space."

The relocation plan is still in its early stages, with no immediate time pressure allowing for careful consideration of logistics and cost-sharing agreements. Funding for the project could potentially come from the Community Preservation Act, avoiding the need for tax increases.

"Now we don't have that kind of pressure of time, so we're going to be able to take our time," Lapp explained, indicating that the town might not have concrete plans ready for the upcoming special town meeting in November.