Onset Bay lit up red with flares – 1,200 flares to be exact – for Onset Bay Association’s Illumination night on Saturday, Aug. 5.

This was the first time the event was held since 2018, and this year, it was dedicated to long-term Onset Bay Association member Sandi Besse, who died in 2021.

“She was known for her infectious smile, loving spirit and commitment to the community through volunteerism,” the association wrote on a memorial poster.

Illumination Night has a history in Onset dating back over a hundred years, where the original purpose was to welcome fishermen home when they returned from sea, according to Kat Jones, executive director of Onset Bay Association.

“There’s something very calming and ethereal about it,” said Jones.

Although many attendees have watched the illumination of Onset Bay in years past, it was a first-time experience for others.

Gail and Dave Reardon moved to Onset recently and were excited to witness the bay glowing red.

“I’ve heard so much about it — the flares, all the people, the happiness and the children blowing bubbles in your faces,” said Gail Reardon.

Tammy Sequeira, a long-term resident of Onset, has been going to the event for years. This year, however, she was able to share the event with her grandchildren.

Children of all ages seemed to enjoy the illumination, with many daunting light-up wands and swords, as well as balloon art from Chip Rascal of What the Fun Inc.

“It’s great just to see [Illumination Night] after so many years without it,” said Sue Cardoza, who brought along her one-year-old great-grandson Leland.

The flares, which covered the whole bay, were lit after nightfall by a group of 20 volunteers led by Amy Hughes.

Two of the volunteers, Kathy MacFee and Marese Barry-Belanger, lit the flares on Onset Beach along with their husbands after a “quick training.”

“We got all the kids on the beach to be the guardians of the flares and they took it very seriously,” said Barry-Belanger. “It was so cute.”

While some attendees watched directly from the beach, others decided to take a birds-eye view overlooking the bay from South Boulevard.

“It’s really lighting up now – it looks nice,” said Brian Waterman.

“It looks better up here when you’re far away,” added his wife, Jamie.