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Wake Up The Earth Festival is A Go For Saturday
Despite forecasts that call for thunderstorms, one of Jamaica Plain's signature festivals will take place.
Organizers of one of Jamaica Plain's signature events, the Wake Up the Earth Festival, say the massive celebration is a go for Saturday, despite a forecast that calls for possible thunderstorms.
Spontaneous Celebrations, the nonprofit group that puts on the festival, announced on its Web site this afternoon that the festival is a go.
"There are some scattered showers, but we are undeterred," says an upbeat message on the machine at Spontaneous Celebrations.
The colorful, joyous event starts with a parade at the Monument at 11 a.m. The rest of the festival takes place along the Southwest Corridor Park, across from Stony Brook T, between noon and 5 p.m.
One of the special events at this year's Wake Up The Earth is the planting of a seedling as part of the "Palas por Pistolas (Shovels from Guns)" art project by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes. The ceremonial planting, done with a shovel made from melted-down firearms, takes place near the Stonybrook basketball courts at 2 p.m.
The festival celebrates the grassroots movement that stopped a government plan to demolish parts of JP to make way for I-95.
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Wake Up the Earth Parade
May 7, 2011 at 10:30 pm–11:45 amCurtis Hall Community Center (on the sidewalk) -
Wake Up the Earth Festival
May 7, 2011 at 12:30 pm–5:00 pmSouthwest Corridor Park (Stony Brook T. Station, Orange Line) -
Southwest Corridor Park
38 New Heath St, Jamaica Plain, MA (This is just the park headquarters. The park runs 4.7 miles and 52 acres from Back Bay to Forest Hills) -
Palas por Pistolas / Shovels for Guns Tree Planting
May 7, 2011 at 2:00 pmSouthwest Corridor Park (Near Stonybrook Basketball Courts)
AV
5:03 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
Will "JP for All" have a table there?
Eric
5:17 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
I'd really prefer that nobody associated with the Whole Foods issue have a table there. It certainly would be nice to leave the divisiveness of the issue behind for one day as a community and to just enjoy the festival with your neighbors.
Rick S
10:22 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
JP for All will not be in attendance. We agree with the sentiments on this page. It would be nice if for one day people were not positioning themselves against their neighbors. Looks like we might be the only ones organized that feels this way from what Chris and Gretchen have said below.
Rira
1:43 pm on Saturday, May 7, 2011
I agree, this day is about mother earth, NOT about petty divisiveness and hijacking - I sure hope it is not hijacked by either side. If one side does hijack, that will show what they are about - opportunism -like Trump. Not civility, like Obama.
Let's see .....
Which side if either will be creeeepy, like Trump - and which will "do better" like Obama?
Chris Helms
5:44 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
Eric, I second what you say about leaving the divisiveness behind for a day! Though I've heard there will be Hi-Lo related art in the Festival itself, so the issue may already be embedded. Of course, it is possible to mourn the loss of Hi-Lo without getting all political, I suppose. It would be great to have a day of us all just being neighbors.
gretchen van ness
5:51 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
Sadly, Whose Foods will be there. It says on their Facebook page that they will have a table, t-shirts for sale, and a "photo documentary." JP For All looks like it is focusing on developing candidates for the JPNC elections in the fall.
On a more positive note, for the first time Hyde/Jackson Square Main Streets will have a table. If you are interested in Hyde Square's future, stop by the HJSMS table and see how you can help!
WilliamM
8:35 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
Looking forward to WUTE. Its been a wbile since I've been to it. Going to be boosting a vendors booth offering nice mother's day gift flowers by Yvonne Landscape & Design
Adam Frost
8:36 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
I think it would be great to leave out divisiveness for the whole year, and work on talking about these issues in a more respectful and compassionate way. I think this takes practice, so I'd be fine with a table or several about shopping and food in our neighborhood, but I think it would be wonderful to make WUTE a day to begin a commitment on everyone's part to fully respect one another and one another's point of view. This is not easy, when you have strong feelings and you're feeling wronged, but it is a good goal to strive for.
-- Adam, Roslindale
Pat Roberts
9:43 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
Back in the late 80's when we went to Wake up the Earth every year, it wasn't a festival to celebrate stopping I-95 at all. That was never mentioned. How interesting that it has been redefined or repositioned to be more politically useful. Whatever is necessary, I guess.
AV
12:43 am on Saturday, May 7, 2011
Ooh! Revisionist history at work - right here in the progressive+liberal JP? :-)
Is this a case of means justifying some nebulous ends?
Maura
10:20 pm on Friday, May 6, 2011
yeah, that I95 thing is a twist. It ws always a mix of celebrating the Labor Movement and Spring. Other political issues du jour always made an entrance but I95 was not a player. Very interesting.
Maura
6:58 am on Saturday, May 7, 2011
The I95 history is prominent in stories regarding the history (on the web, for example) but I don't remember it ever being a presence during the festival itself. Maybe it was just a given and I didn't notice.
Maybe I'm just getting old....
Miguelito
7:06 am on Saturday, May 7, 2011
Revisionist history is right. Just take a look at Whose Foods Facebook page. “The festival started to celebrate the grassroots movement to keep I-95 out of JP.”
And the end justifying the means indeed. “Come join us for kids activities, an info table, t-shirts and an inspiring exhibit of photos by Diana Mai of neighbors raising their voices for affordability and diversity. We'll also be petitioning all day, and are looking for volunteers to help out! Come by our table and pick up a clipboard.”
If you want to leave divisiveness behind for the day, unfortunately Wake Up The Earth is probably not the place to be this year. ¡Qué vergüenza!
Andrew Joslin
10:26 am on Saturday, May 7, 2011
Very healthy to have all the views represented, and to celebrate that. Glad to hear that Whose Foods will be there.
Peter
1:26 pm on Saturday, May 7, 2011
I'm taking a pass this year. And probably won't be active anymore. Wake up the earth sees to be becoming more politically divisive the celebratory.