375 Years Without a Circus ... That Changes Saturday

Wayland has seen many events, people, businesses and spectacles come to town throughout its 375-year history.

One thing it has never seen? A circus.

But that changes Saturday as the 375th Anniversary Commemoration Committee welcomes the Moody Street Circus -- complete with 30-foot high tightrope act -- to the grounds of Wayland Middle School for the kickoff of the town's year-long anniversary celebration.

"We chose [a circus] because we really wanted something that had never come to Wayland," explained Deborah Seidman, member of the 375th Anniversary Committee and coordinator for the opening day events. "We wanted to try and do something that was a little more old-fashioned and hopefully get generations together."

Saturday marks the launch of the year-long 375th annivesary party for Wayland and, Seidman explained, the day's events were designed to include elements from the earliest days of Wayland.

In particular, the Praying Indians of Natick will be at Fire Station No. 2 throughout the day helping guests build a we-tu, or wigwam, and leading guests in crafts, story-telling, cooking, planting and more. Additionally, tours at the Grout-Heard House as well as walking tours through historic Wayland will be offered.

But the spectacle of the day will no doubt be the Moody Street Circus and Carnival.

Seidman said the committee asked the performers to provide a show with a feel of an 1890s circus. She said that tightrope walker Sacha Pavlata is a fifth-generation circus performer and his wife, Melina, who will also perform, is a third-generation circus performer.

"What we though about was what represents history and what did families do way back when," Seidman said, "which was wait for the circus to come to town."

Seidman said that the committee decided to focus the year-long celebration on the coming together of families because that is what Wayland represents to the committee members.

"As the year progresses, we're moving forward in time [with activities and events], but it will always focus on family history and generations," Seidman explained.

Even though Saturday's kick-off events are specifically looking back to the earliest days of Wayland's history, Seidman said committee members intentionally reached out to businesses at Wayland Town Center as the representatives of the newest element of Wayland.

"It was very important for us to bring what was very old and traditional ... and to bring the newest piece of Wayland into the picture," Seidman said. "It was very intentional to go after the newest piece of Wayland and draw them in; to try and incorporate old and new."

Town Center businesses stepped up to sponsor Saturday's events. Seidman specifically mentioned Stop & Shop, which is donating all the food for an old-fashioned food pavilion and other refreshments throughout the day.

Seidman said the days events came together thanks to donations of time and money and a lot of hard work by a small committee.

"I'm really proud of the team," Seidman said. "We all worked very hard and put in a lot of energy."

Tickets for the circus and carnival are available online as is a schedule of the day's events.