ROYALSTON — Village School Director Rise Richardson said the Saturday Morning on Royalston Common annual Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction appears to have been one of the most successful such event yet.
There was plenty to lure people to the event, with one of the most popular attractions being a presentation on birds of prey by Tom Ricardi, founder of the Massachusetts Birds of Prey Rehab in Conway. Dozens of children sat on the ground around crates holding a variety of raptors, while their parents and other adults stood around the perimeter of the tent anticipating a great show. They were not disappointed.
Kids and adults alike could be heard gasping and “aweing” as Ricardi first displayed a great horned owl, followed by many other impressive and beautiful birds. The presentation likely could have lasted all morning, as Ricardi had no trouble at all holding the interest of his audience. He provided facts and dispelled myths related to his charges, asked questions of the children, and took inquiries in turn.
In addition to birds of prey, the morning event, which ran from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., also featured the Millers River Morris Men, a dance troupe founded in 1981, according to the group’s Facebook page, to “practice the nearly ancient tradition of Morris Dancing.” The dance, it goes on, is meant to “celebrate, assist and cooperate with the forces of nature that are brought forth in springtime — of course, always in good humor.”
According to the “Folk Music Journal,” the earliest mention of Morris dancing dates to the mid-15th century London.
Music for the Morris Men was provided by Richardson, who played a melodeon, also known as a diatonic accordion.
Of course, the main attraction was the pancake breakfast, cooked and served by volunteers. Hungry visitors packed the dining hall at Royalston Town Hall to dine on organic blueberry pancakes served with local maple syrup.
Also popular with attendees was the silent auction, which included items and services provided by local businesses and artisans.
This is our only fundraiser,” Richardson explained, “because we don’t believe in doing kind of nickle-and-dime stuff. All the parents pitch in and are doing something today. We start organizing in January. We have all the local merchants who donate to the auction. We make phone calls. Some of the things we’ve been doing the same way for years, other things are new.”
Richardson added that, despite not holding the event for two years due to COVID-19, there was no problem getting the event off the ground once again.
“Actually, this is one of the biggest crowds we’ve seen, and the most we’ve every seen for the pancake breakfast, which kind of surprised me. I think because it’s been two years, a lot of parents were really enthusiastic about doing this this year. They were really raring to go.”
Richardson told the Athol Daily News on the Monday following the event that this was “the best ever. It broke all records.” She added that the breakfast was so popular that the volunteers in the kitchen ran out of pancake batter.
Other attractions included an espresso and citrus bar, fresh popcorn, face painting, a raffle for Red Sox tickets, a children’s obstacle course, and a Gardner Ale House beer tent. The Phinehas S. Newton Library also sold plants and books.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com