By LILLIAN GLAROS
PHOTO CREDIT Lillian Glaros
Dozens of people gathered Sept. 28 at Berwyn Park to celebrate Berwyn Day, which one resident described as “a picnic on steroids.”
Children played games on the grass as attendees meandered around a dozen booths that had jewelry, flowers, honey or used goods for sale.
The band Baraboo played in the background as the sun shone brightly during what was a mostly rainy week. Bike and scooter riders zoomed past the celebration on the nearby Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, occasionally looking over to observe the going-ons.
The event, hosted by the Berwyn District Civic Association, has run since 1974, although not every year, Bob Catlin, the co-president of the association, said.
The celebration featured multiple booths from community organizations and local businesses, and offered face painting, roller skating, crafts and more.
Attendees could purchase raffle tickets to win gift cards from local businesses, such as Vigilante Coffee.
Food was also available for attendees. Those craving savory snacks could head to Taqueria Habanero’s food truck, and party-goers in the mood for something sweet could find it at the civic association’s bake sale.
Jennifer Lindstrom of Joyful Apiaries on Lackawanna Street said she hoped to educate people about bees and honey, in addition to getting to know her neighbors better.
“I think it’s great when we have these events just to meet more neighbors and kind of see how College Park is connected,” Lindstrom, a Hollywood resident, said.
At other booths, participants said they hoped to engage with the community.
Josanne Francis, the lead community engagement coordinator at the University of Maryland’s Office of Community Engagement, said she wanted to learn how people are engaging with the community.
Some Berwyn residents also held activities at booths.
Ellen Woodbridge, who has lived in Berwyn for more than three decades, ran an arts and crafts booth with her husband and daughter. Booth participants created bracelets or greeting cards.
“I grew up coming to Berwyn, and, you know, it just feels like it’s part of my childhood, and I like to give back to the community,” her daughter, Zoe Woodbridge, a Greenbelt resident, said.
Other attendees are also former residents returning to support their old neighborhood.
Janeen Miller, a Greenbelt resident who used to live in Berwyn, said she came to support the community.
“These events are very important, particularly on the micro-neighborhood level, like Berwyn is,” Miller, who worked as the College Park city clerk for 18 years, said.
