As the sun began to set last Saturday, Hingham Harbor lit up with a lively Fall Festival. Families and friends gathered to support the Hingham Crew team and welcome fall. Although it was not the team’s first fall fundraiser, this year’s Fall Fest stood out for its large crowd, diverse activities, and enthusiasm. Under the lights and amidst live music, children enjoyed activities like face painting, racing and games, while adults could grab food and drink supplied by a barbecue food truck and Untold Brewery.

Senior and captain of the girls team, Izzy Wagner, shared that she “thought that the Fall Fest was an amazing opportunity to raise money for the team while also having fun with friends. It was more than just a fundraiser, the Fall Fest was an opportunity to come together as a team and as a community.” 

Parents and board members organized the event while rowers stepped in as volunteers. All together the event ran smoothly. Henry Hoch, a member of the boys crew team commented, “At Fall Fest I enjoyed delicious food, there were also fun activities to enjoy with friends. The crew team did a great job organizing such an entertaining fall event.”

Audrey Lambert, a Sophomore on the team explained, “I thought Fall Fest was really fun! They had really great activities like face painting, pumpkin painting, yard games, raffles, and good food! I really enjoyed being able to help out both the community and crew team! It was a great way to spend time with some of my teammates and friends!”

I reached out to Senator Patrick O’Connor who attended the Fall Festival, continuing his support after hosting the Hingham Girls Crew team at the Statehouse last spring to celebrate their championship title. What stood out to him most “was the incredible energy and spirit of the Hingham community. Seeing so many families, students, and supporters come together to celebrate the season and support the crew team really highlighted how special this town is. The enthusiasm was contagious, and it was clear how much pride everyone takes in supporting each other.” 

Senator O’Connor explained the importance of local sports teams to communities like Hingham, “Local sports like Hingham Crew are at the heart of community and school life. They give students the opportunity to learn teamwork, discipline, and leadership, while also giving families and residents something to rally behind. The crew team in particular represents the dedication and perseverance that make Hingham such a strong community, and their presence helps bring people together in a really meaningful way.”

 He continued, “Attending the Fall Festival reinforced what I already knew about Hingham. This is a town full of engaged, supportive, and welcoming people. Events like this remind me how invested residents are in one another’s success, especially when it comes to supporting our students.”

 Finally he added, “I’d just like to thank the organizers, the crew team, and the families who worked so hard to make the Fall Festival a success. I was grateful to be a part of this and I wish you and everyone student at HHS the best of luck this crew season and academic school year.”

 The success that the crew team has achieved on the water reflects the hard work of a large and supportive community. That community worked together this weekend to organize an event that captured Hingham’s pride and its enthusiastic support of local sports.