Community
Bring Back Fall River Celebrates America
It seems almost impossible, but can you imagine if New Bedford cancelled their annual Madeira Festa? I’m pretty sure the city would riot. A long-standing tradition rooted in culture, food and music, it’s the seasonal constant that brings tens of thousands to the city, with generations making memories year after year at the feast.
Why doesn’t Fall River have that?
Many years ago, we did. Fall River Celebrates was for almost 25 years, exactly that for our city. Summer after summer, the waterfront became the gem of the city, with attractions like carnival rides, food and concerts on the grass. It was a big production, that took a lot of work (I was a part of the team back in 2004) but it brought people from all over to our city. More than that, it brought the people of our city together, the one thing that could.
Today, with a lackluster tourism program that can’t seem to muster up the likes on Facebook for much of anything, it’s going to take something like bringing back Fall River Celebrates America to get people feeling excited about the city again. We’ve seen business leaders like Christopher Silva from Christopher’s start a movement for his South End neighborhood and some Flint grant money that is supposed to make big changes on that part of the city but what we really need is for the city leadership to get this going again.
Bringing back FRCA will require local businesses and political leaders to come together for the cause, a big change from the isolated, personalized goals they have for themselves. Honestly, when is the last time the community leaders came together as a group to give the city anything at all? Fall River deserves this celebration, and it seems as if the people in leadership roles don’t think we do.
Fall River Celebrates America was everything that was GOOD about our city and without it as a positive focal point, there ends up being too much focus on the bad. New Bedford isn’t perfect. They have their own problems, but for one weekend a year, they all go away.
Give us back Fall River Celebrates America.
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RedPilled
June 13, 2024 at 10:12 am
Fall River has no leadership. The voters here just keep voting for the same incompetent people.
Marie medeiros.
June 14, 2024 at 1:11 pm
I agree wholeheartedly. Very sad.people just don’t give a dam.
Fed Up
June 13, 2024 at 11:25 am
The Democrats hate America why would they celebrate it?
RedPilled
June 13, 2024 at 11:32 am
Bingo
RiverFR
June 13, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Democrats and Republicans love America. I think you need to accept differently.
Jo Cabral
June 13, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Seriously, I Love America and I’m proud of it. I’m a Democrat so please don’t speak for all Dem’s thank you
Helene L
June 14, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Is that for sure. I am stuck in another liberal state and right now is our county fair….i remember fall river celebrates fall river what an amazing time that was preteens into adult hood. I would go sit somewhere and take my brother and a few of his friends down and let them have fun….it is said that dems hate our flag.
Fred
June 14, 2024 at 9:51 pm
So leave. Stop complaining about what used to be and blaming Democrats. Take that democratic social security check of yours and your Medicare and move to Florida or Texas. We don’t need your bad attitude here
MortisMaximus
June 15, 2024 at 11:53 am
You should move to Cuba Fred. I bet you’d enjoy your equal share of nothing. Imagine that because someone disagrees with you then that person should flee the state. Your intolerance is a shining example of democracy.
RiverFR
June 13, 2024 at 11:29 am
I love to see it come back. I was so proud of the city to hold such an event. Some complained about the cost, but the city’s image and tourism outweighed it. It was one big shining star event. Bring it Back!!
ROSCO17
June 13, 2024 at 1:20 pm
With shootings at an all time high in the city why wouldn’t we want to bring back Fall River Celebrates America.. All are welcome especially the WOKE Liberals!!
Ron Noto-Moniz
June 14, 2024 at 9:13 am
Those that bring politics into this and throw stoned at the other side are a big part of every problem.
Leaves the insults out of it and be part of the solution.
Cindy Coroa
June 13, 2024 at 1:50 pm
This is part of the problem. Leave politics out of it. Fall River has a beautiful waterfront and Fall River Celebrates America was a great place to celebrate. With the new waterfront park it would be amazing to bring it back again. There was always a large police presence during the event and I don’t believe there were any big issues.
RiverFR
June 13, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Thank you well said!!
Kenny Souza
June 17, 2024 at 1:31 am
Except for the cop that was killed that one year
Jess Machado
June 17, 2024 at 10:22 am
He was not killed. He was chasing a suspect and jumped over a wall/fence area and fell off the side of an embankment.
MortisMaximus
June 13, 2024 at 4:21 pm
You people must be in a state of delusion from the high levels of fluoride and mold permeating your drinking water. Fall River has fallen into disrepair in terms of infrastructure, leadership, fiscal responsibility, family values and the list goes on and on. Debating who loves America more, Republicans or Democrats, shows the political ignorance of the commenter. You are living under the reign of a Uni-Party Duopoly. 98.9% of the politicians representing you would sell out your inherent rights, which are memorialized in the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. America is finished and is now an illegal alien paradise. Keep working and keep paying for the free benefits these invaders are receiving. Send another $200 billion to the perverted, cocaine addicted pervert, Joe Bidens illegitimate son, Voldomor 10% Zelensky. Keep your eyes on the prize, there is great honor in struggling to pay rent and put food on your table.
Mike Paul 31
June 13, 2024 at 4:23 pm
I can tell you from past involvement with FRCA and also a former member of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce, that the reason it was stopped was because there had been inclement weather a couple of the years in a row. The people didn’t come out because of it, and a ton of money was lost. The organizers dont want to take a chance on that again. I was not an organizer, but that’s what was discussed at the meetings
Rick F
June 14, 2024 at 6:05 am
What does politics have to do with have a festival. Sounds like someone wants make America great again festival. I guess the Feast of the Holy Ghost every August in Kennedy park doesn’t count as a big enough festival.
William Matthews
June 14, 2024 at 9:02 am
Your spot on.Democrats who say they love America,leave politics out of it are fools.Politics is what has destroyed the greatest Country in the world.Turned Fall River into another blue state shit hole.They have some kind of Dementia. Sorry Facts Don’t lie.
Gregory D Younge
June 15, 2024 at 10:19 am
People don’t know God is the issue once you return to submitting your life to God you can see changes until then all calamity will befall you and why is there a division in politics because it’s a pile of tricks division of the people will always bring any country to its knees
Dawn
June 14, 2024 at 8:52 am
We should make Fall River Celebrates a city wide festival to alleviate some of the congestion and possible problems of the overcrowded waterfront. Each neighborhood should be involved and the entire city should be used. Here are some examples of what I think would attract people from all over.
Baseball and softball tournaments where players from all over the region are invited. This could be held at various parks or just 2
Pickle ball tournaments with player from all over the region
Concerts in the parks or on the water front
Carnival but maybe move it to BCC with more parking and open space
Craft/vendor fair on the waterfront or one of the parks
Food festival on the waterfront. Tents, trucks, carts, tables, etc….
Neighborhood walking tours with guides who can tell the history
FR Historical society open and hosting talks or short presentations
FR Art Association open with a themed gallery
Restaurant week
Marching band competitions or at least the high school bands, orchestras, color guards, and ensembles perform at the high school
High school tours so everyone can see the amazing things happening there
Battleship with discounted admission
Free or low cost transportation between events and parking areas
Obviously a parade and fireworks to culminate the event
The list is endless, but spreading it out would encourage people to participate. I know many people who avoided this event because of the crowds and high possibility of trouble. If the event were spread out it would be difficult to charge a fee BUT someone who was only interested in one event would be more likely to attend.
Fall River Dave
June 14, 2024 at 11:48 am
I like it, I like it a lot.
Sounds good, showing Fall River isn’t so bad as outsiders think could turn other issues around also…….sticking together instead of sticking it too each other is the message to send to the whole city.
Kate Marin
June 15, 2024 at 6:56 pm
You’ve nailed it- GREAT ideas.
Hope very much your comment & thinking goes right at the top of all organizers’ list.
matthew durfee
June 14, 2024 at 10:04 am
My ancestors got out of Fall River when it started to decline a hundred years ago .
Johnathan Leonardo
June 14, 2024 at 11:08 am
That would be the far right Autocrats bozo
MortisMaximus
June 14, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Are you referring to the ones running Massachusetts?
Dorothy Bellavance
June 15, 2024 at 12:43 pm
This has special meaning to me. Back in the 1980s my late husband, Robert Bellavance, was the CEO of the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce and proudly talked about it for many years I hope current business and civic leaders can rally to renew the tradition. Dottie B.
Travis Bickle
June 15, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Ok let’s face it we’re not living in the 90s anymore. A lot of punks, gangs & violence now, so it wasn’t the same. How about Fall River worries about the roads that destroy cars instead of a ghetto six flags thx.