Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee finalizes early-2026 events calendar and fundraising plans
Summary
At its Dec. 18 meeting the Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee approved prior minutes and set an events and fundraising calendar for early 2026, including a March silent auction, a May food-truck party, a June carnival, commemorative coins, merchandise sales and banners at Town Hall and the Fire Department.
The Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee on Dec. 18 approved minutes from its Nov. 6 meeting and outlined a calendar of events and fundraising activities for early 2026, assigning specific members to follow up on vendors, merchandise and logistics. The meeting took place at the Merrimac Police Department Conference Room.
Committee members identified volunteer recruitment as the committee27s biggest need and discussed a range of program ideas after an Old Home Days representative presented the possibility of running an event. Proposed children27s activities for the kids zone include rented inflatables, an inflatable axe-throwing station, borrowing a bounce house from Jamaco and a watermelon-eating contest. Members also discussed holding a bonfire as part of the 150th birthday celebration.
The group reported that the 2025 Holiday Light Contest fundraiser is active, with voting scheduled through Dec. 23. Committee members also reviewed merchandise ordering procedures (orders placed through the website, payment due when items are in stock) and debriefed the Santa Parade float, calling it a success and thanking volunteers.
On scheduling, the committee set near-term priorities: a library installation in January (lead: Julie Fisher) and a winter silent auction targeted for March (lead: Lauren Santagate). Other items discussed for 2026 include a time capsule ceremony in April, a food-truck party in May, a carnival in June, a fall block party and an October/November scavenger hunt. The committee also discussed ongoing youth engagement such as an essay contest and curriculum or programming at the school or library.
Fundraising ideas the group identified included continuing the Holiday Light Contest, restaurant fundraisers with local restaurants (minutes list Little Caesars, Flatbread and Osaka), commemorative coins and expanded merchandise (t-shirts, sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts). Larry Fisher was tasked with contacting Fiesta Shows about carnival feasibility and obtaining coin pricing; Lauren Santagate was asked to solidify dates and reach out to potential restaurant partners; Rob Gustison was asked to update the website to reflect upcoming items.
A discussion item described as "what we leave behind" (related to legacy items such as a time capsule) was tabled; Larry Fisher will consult with Greg Fuhr and report back. The committee agreed that 150th banners will be placed at Town Hall and at the Fire Department.
Action items were assigned to individual members, including website updates (Robert L. Gustison II), sponsorship-list revisions (Gretchen Fuhr), vendor and silent-auction outreach (Lauren Santagate and collaborators), carnival and coin pricing research (Larry Fisher), and digitization of historic photos and school outreach (Michelle Gustison). The committee scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Merrimac Police Department Conference Room.
Procedurally, Robert L. Gustison II moved to approve the Nov. 6 minutes; Lauren Santagate seconded and the motion passed unanimously. At the end of the meeting Gustison moved to adjourn; Santagate seconded and the adjournment was approved unanimously.
The committee concluded without taking further formal votes on events or budgets; assigned members will return with vendor quotes, dates and cost information at a future meeting.
