In preparation for the Town of Bedford’s 300th Anniversary in 2029, the ad hoc Bedford 300 Exploratory Task Force met with former Selectman Angelo Colao to hear about the 275th anniversary. Colao was the Selectman liaison and lead of Bedford’s 275th Committee. Colao described the planning for the year-long celebration which began in February 2003, just 10 months before the yearlong celebrations began.
The 275th committee consisted of roughly half a dozen members. Colao highlighted the importance of garnering community support and funding for the celebration.
In addition to learning from Bedford’s prior experience, the Task Force expects to learn from significant town anniversaries in other towns, including Chelmsford, Duxbury, Plymouth, Salem, and Lexington. The Task Force hopes to draw on the experience of neighboring towns to see that the 300th celebration is well planned.
The Task Force held their second meeting on October 2; the committee discussed celebrations in other towns, milestones in Bedford history, and how to engage townspeople in planning for the anniversary
Among the suggestions were fireworks, competitions, and games that might generate excitement for the event years in advance.
The Task Force began researching the possibility of creating a special License Plate dedicated to celebrating Bedford’s 300th Anniversary. The purchase of these plates through the Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles could boost town spirits and raise funds. There is also interest in elementary school students creating a time capsule that would be opened during their senior year at Bedford High School.
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