Illumination Night in Onset delights visitors

Aug 28, 2016

From Burgess Point to Shell Point, Onset Bay burned bright as thousands of flares cast a warm, red glow during the annual Illumination Night.

Held Saturday night, the event attracted thousands of residents and tourists for the event, which has been ongoing for more than 100 years.

“It’s one of my personal favorites,” said Onset Bay Association President Kat Jones. “I was thinking about it and the flares burning down on a late summer night, for me, is symbolic of summer coming to an end.”

Illumination Night followed a full season of events hosted by the Association that included the annual Onset Blues Festival, Midsummer Shakespeare, Sandcastle Day, the Blessing of the Fleet and the Summer of Love Concert Series.

Jones noted that the free event draws thousands of tourists each year. It costs approximately $3,000 to stage and was paid for with $1,500 given by Eastern Bank and donations collected by volunteers at Illumination Night.

New this year, a fire dancer performed on the beach while Frank Noonan and his band played Dixie Land tunes inside the gazebo that overlooks the bay.