Ah…Summer Festivals

Welcome back!

Our community places great emphasis on invigorating community life. We have events throughout the year that are designed to bring people together on our streets, in our parks and at various business and recreational venues across our region.

This weekend we have an international golf tournament in town. To involve everyone in the excitement (golfers AND non golfers) our local restaurants, art galleries, retailers, other commercial businesses and recreational centers have played up the golf theme. All this means is that they have found sponsors to underwrite a “festival” and have yet another reason to close streets and invite folks out to stroll, listen to some outdoor music, sit at impromptu cafes and enjoy the sunshine with neighbors and tourists.

I think I have found a new principle for our “new urbanist” lifestyle: use any special event or occasion (no matter how irrelevant to the community at large) as a reason to celebrate. The excitement raises social and commercial interest in your community (which is good for everyone). And best of all you have yet another reason to walk around and socialize with the people who have significant impact on your quality of life – your family and the people who live in your community.