Cranberry Day a Hit with Over 650 Attendees

This year’s Cranberry Day festival, held on November 9 at the South Shore YMCA Nature Center, was a resounding success. More than 650 visitors celebrated the fascinating 200+ year history of cranberry cultivation in Massachusetts. Mother nature cooperated with beautiful fall weather, and participants enjoyed a day filled with hands-on learning and festive fun.

Highlights included interactive wet and dry harvest simulations and STEM activities such as building rafts with cranberries and toothpicks. In the Cranberry Lab, visitors had a chance to view cranberry cross-sections under the microscope, to view a bog model, and to discover just how high cranberries can bounce. Even the Nature Center’s chickens got in on the fun, enjoying cranberries as tasty treats in their new coop. Due to a red flag warning, marshmallow roasting was replaced with an equally fun, marshmallow toss activity. Attendees also enjoyed the storywalk trail, lawn games, and exploring the Nature Center’s gardens, trails, and wildlife exhibits.

“It’s clear that Cranberry Day brought joy to everyone—from young children to adults—while also offering educational experiences that were both fun and informative.” shared Nature Center Director, Sarah Kugel.

Live acoustic music from Chuck Vermette provided the perfect backdrop for the event, while kids enjoyed arts & crafts, face painting, and other interactive activities. Cooking with Abby provided a cranberry sauce cooking demo and provided samples of scrumptious cranberry bars. Performances by Big Ryan’s Tall Tales were also very popular.

“We’re thrilled with the turnout and positive feedback,” said Sarah. “It’s always wonderful to see so many people come out to support our programs and enjoy time together in nature.”

The South Shore YMCANature Center now looks ahead to its next big event, Maple Day in the spring, where guests can witness the sap-to-syrup process during the annual sap boil. In the meantime, visitors are encouraged to explore upcoming programs and events by visiting the Nature Center’s website: southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org/