WATERTOWN, Mass.—From Fri., Sept. 9 through Sun., Sept. 11, the Greater Boston area will enjoy the second annual three-day spectacular open air “Kermesse” festival featuring some of the leading names in Armenian entertainment.
Here is an opportunity to enjoy three days of delectable Armenian cuisine (including a special menu for children) as well as activities that will appeal to all ages. Local Armenian organizations will host displays featuring various aspects of Armenian culture. The special theme this year will feature the provinces of historic Armenia.
Thanks to the excellent reception by the greater Boston community, our inaugural Kermesse in 2010 was a rousing success, having hosted more than 4,000 guests during the two-day festivities. Encouraged by this response, the organizing committee is planning a much larger and more entertaining festival.
The new improvements include free access to the festival area on the street, where guests can enjoy cultural exhibits and children’s activities, and picnic tables for individuals and families to enjoy a wide range of food and drinks and to socialize. The main tent located in the parking lot will be 50 percent larger than last year’s, allowing for greater seating capacity and a larger dance floor. And, by popular demand, an Armenian brandy and cigar bar will be located in the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) courtyard featuring live jazz music by great artists.
Featured Kermesse attractions include the one and only Tata Simonyan; the always entertaining Element Band from Los Angeles; the Aravod Ensemble featuring the legendary Mal Barsamian; our very own Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble; Ashot Logian with Hayasa Band; the Yerevan Band; the Karen Kocharyan Quartet featuring world renown Jerry Bergonzi; the Classic Groove; and others.
The weekend festivities will take place on the grounds of the ACEC in Watertown and on Nichols Ave., between Bigelow and Elton Avenues, which will be transformed into a mall for the three-day event. Funds raised by this event will support the ACEC and its educational and cultural programs, now in its 31th year. The ACEC was established in 1980 and is a duly registered 501(C) (3) non-profit charitable organization.
According to Kermesse Chairperson Ara Nazarian, the celebration will showcase the Armenian community as one of the many ethnic groups that have made Watertown a diverse and vibrant town. Since its inception as a community center in 1980, the ACEC has hosted a wide range of educational, cultural, religious, and charitable events.
Individual one-day and combination day tickets (Saturday and Sunday, or Friday through Sunday) as well as pre-event family packages are available online at www.boston-kermesse.org or by calling (617) 926-6067.
Free parking will be available at the Watertown Supply lot (on 33 Grove St.), Tufts Health (Grove St. Visitor Parking only), and the Greek Orthodox Church and Watertown Savings Bank lots (25 Bigelow Ave.). On-street parking is also available.
The Kermesse Committee is comprised of members of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church Board of Trustees, Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts (Homenetmen), Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Society, St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF).
All Armenian organizations and vendors in the greater Boston area are cordially invited to participate and highlight their respective activities and services to the community at large. Joining us again this year is www.armenianvendor.com, as well as the many other vendors and organizations that made last year’s Kermesse so successful.
The Kermesse Committee expects to host some 6,000 guests during the weekend-long festivities. This popular event provides a wide range of sponsorship opportunities for businesses and individuals to participate in this unique celebration to showcase their products and services to the community at large. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.boston-kermesse.org and click on Sponsors.
For more information, to purchase tickets, or for advertising options, visit www.boston-kermesse.org, email acec@acecwatertown.org, or call the ACEC Office at (617) 926-6067.
Make a note on your calendar to join us on Fri., Sept. 9 through Sun., Sept. 11 for this end-of-summer open-air spectacular.
Michael Mensoian
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