The Hopedale Fire Walk (as we call it) was held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 in downtown Hopedale, MA. The stroll takes place at many stops along Hopedale Street and Dutcher Street including many historic buildings such as the Draper Gym, Hopedale Community House, Bancroft Memorial Library, Hopedale Unitarian Church, Union Evangelical Church, and the Little Red Shop Museum.  Multiple vendor locations showcase work from local vintage vendors, hand makers, artisans, food vendors and mobile shops. 

The weather was cold, damp and overcast, but William F. Ray members were not dismayed and showed up with a tent, banner, and corn hole boards & bags.  There was plenty of things to see and do if you wanted to walk around a bit, like a crafts fair, a heritage museum, vendor food trucks, face painting, street clowns, Witch Dancers, an all-around festive atmosphere. And aside from the heartwarming firepit blaze that we kept going from noon until dark, we also had great live music at our location for 3 hours from David Penza playing guitar and singing all your favorite tunes from his restored, vintage Volkswagen Bus. We met several very sociable Masonic Lodge members, but only two were present when the picture was taken.  We also met and chatted with numerous town folks walking from site to site with either their children or their dogs.

Unfortunately, Paul Nevins could not make it and he sent his regrets saying that the weather did not cooperate, and he spent the day indoors.   Paul also noted that this was one of his most favorite events of the year and he hated missing it.