The Grand Baldwin Festival returned this past weekend for its fifth year, bringing food, music, family activities, and community spirit to the heart of the hamlet.
Hosted by the Community Coalition of Baldwin in partnership with the Baldwin Public Library, the event took place on Saturday in the municipal parking lot behind the library on Grand Avenue. Organizers said the festival exceeded expectations.
“It was really beyond my expectations,” said Claudia Rotondo, the coalition’s director. She credited high school volunteers, who arrived early to work shifts lasting until late afternoon, for helping everything run smoothly.
“Voluntering at the Grand Baldwin Festival is certainly one of the highlights of my year,” said David Kreutz, a member of the Baldwin Key Club. “It’s always great to work with my friends in putting a community event together, and the turnout from residents is further proof the heart of Baldwin is alive.”
The festival featured 92 vendors, including food trucks, jewelry makers, local nonprofits, pet groomers, and other businesses
Entertainment included performances by local dance studios, the band Musically Inclined, and students from Hangout One Happy Place. Costumed characters, such as an “ice princess” and a “spider hero,” also made appearances for on-stage performances and meet-and-greets.
“It was such a great experience performing at the Grand Baldwin Festival,” Ronnie Roddy Jr. of Musically Inclined said to the Herald.
“It was truly an amazing experience for them to perform at such a grand event,” Angela Lucas, founder of Hangout One Happy Place said, “and to have the community embrace us.”
The location behind the Baldwin Public Library again proved ideal. Rotondo noted that the library’s cooperation — providing restrooms and drawing visitors inside — helped the festival feel accessible and community-centered.
“They’re very, very cooperative, and that’s really the ideal place for it, because it’s centrally located,” she said.
The Grand Baldwin Festival began in 2019 to mark the Baldwin Public Library’s 100th anniversary. It has since grown into a community tradition, drawing hundreds of visitors each year and reflecting the mission of the Community Coalition of Baldwin — an offshoot of the Baldwin Council Against Drug Abuse — to strengthen neighborhood pride and promote substance abuse education.
Proceeds from the festival supported scholarships for Baldwin High School seniors who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, as well as other community-building initiatives.
“It’s all worth it in the end,” Rotondo said. “We threw a great event.”
