Let There Be Balloons

When the Chatham Band holds its first Friday night band concert this summer, it appears that the tradition of balloons being sold outside Kate Gould Park will be preserved.

In early May, members of the Chatham-Harwich chapter of the American Field Service, who sold balloons at the concerts and the town’s Fourth of July parade for more than four decades, announced that they would no longer do so due to a lack of volunteers.

But a Chronicle story about that decision drew the attention of members of another local non-profit organization --- in fact, the town’s oldest continuing charity group, St. Martin’s Masonic Lodge. The Lodge was looking for a creative way to raise money for its community activities, and members didn’t want to see an end to the colorful custom, enshrined in innumerable paintings and photographs.

“It continues the tradition in town,” said incoming lodge master Robert Denn. “You can’t have a parade and band concerts without balloons.”

capecodchronicle.com