Party time at the HUB with food, music, lights and people.  Paul Goldfinger photos except where noted. ©  Click on pictures to enlarge.

Hub side yard where the Wichita Lineman offers up some sad cowboy tunes. C’mon Glenn Campbell—pick up the tempo! Blogfinger photos ©

By Paul Goldfinger, Festival Editor @Blogfinger

There is a tradition of illumination nights  that has occurred in at least two camp meeting grounds: Oak Bluffs  (Martha’s Vineyard) and Ocean Grove. The former has continued for over a century while the latter is now being brought back into town by Deb Cuddhy.

The old Ocean Grove version was nautical based in the late 19th century (Wesley Lake) until it got washed out in the 1920’s.  Now we have the Ocean Grove version of Festivus for the Restivus which is land based at The Hub, with the headquarters conveniently located across the park from Days Ice Cream Garden.)

As far as we can tell, the old  festivals of lights at the camp meeting grounds had no religious significance.  Other events also focus on lights such as Hanukkah and Christmas.  Do you recall the scene in Apocalypse Now when we go up the river into the heart of darkness and find the night lit up with an ominous light show—so it’s not always fun and games.

But, most of the time, turning on the lights means optimism and happiness.  Just listen to Vera Lynn sing  below about “When the Lights Go On Again All Over the World”—where she is referring to coming out of the shadows after WWII.

It’s almost natural for people to feel happy when festive lights go on.  There must be a brain connection of some sort, because when Grovers showed up last evening at the HUB for Illumination Night, there was an uplifting mood all about, complimented by clear and cool ocean breezes.

People were laughing and happy.  Even Shirley Bell, a long-time Grover with a dry sense of humor, who got there before dark, said, “Where’s the illumination?”   Now that’s a one-liner that’s more groovy than Grovey.  Deb Cuddhy’s light show was catching on.

The idea is that folks around town should put up lanterns and lights on their porches.  Some actually did that  (see photos below), and, as with any new tradition, next year should be even bigger.  I mean, the earliest Christmas celebrators probably had only a few tents decorated with candles, while others were probably peaking out their flaps wondering, “What the hey?”

But now, at the “First Annual New Illumination Night,” we have a wonderful beginning of a new tradition in Ocean Grove, and each subsequent edition should get even better—it takes time for such ideas to sink into the consciousness of a town.  Click on one gallery image and then see the rest.  Use the little X to come back here:

VERA LYNN:

ELAINE ELIAS   Who knows what those lights might lead to: