Illumination Night shines in Onset
Sep 1, 2018
Fire dancers from Circus Dynamics put on a show at Illumination Night in Onset. Photo by: Meghan Neely
Red flares decorate the shores of Onset Beach. Photo by: Meghan Neely
Luminary bags wait for dark at Illumination Night. Photo by: Meghan Neely
Steel drum band El Caribe jams out at the Onset Gazebo. Photo by: Meghan Neely
A vendor sells light up swords, wands and more for Illumination Night. Photo by: Meghan Neely
Illumination Night lit up Onset Beach with hundreds of red flares and luminaries on Saturday, Sept. 1 in a final farewell to summer.
Organized by the Onset Bay Association, the event featured a concert from 5-piece steel drum band El Caribe and a fire dancing performance from Circus Dynamics.
“It’s personally my favorite night of the summer,” said Onset Bay Association President Kat Jones. “It used to just be a locals-only event and now we’ve blossomed into something much bigger and better.”
The Onset Bay Association has hosted Illumination Night for more than 30 years. According to Jones, the tradition dates back even further to a time when the flares on the beach would be used to welcome fishermen home as they returned from sea.
“Now it’s a way for us to come together and reflect,” Jones said. “It’s been a very full and amazing summer for all of us at the OBA, and we’re very grateful to everyone who continues to support us.”
The evening was sponsored in part by a grant from Eastern Bank. Other key supporters included the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Wareham Cultural Council.
For more information on upcoming events with the Onset Bay Association, visit www.onsetbay.org
