Country culture comes to downtown Middleboro
Attendees line dance during the “Dance the Night Away” western-themed community event at the parking lot at North Main and Peirce streets on Friday, Aug. 1. Photos by Sam Tucker
Many attendees came prepared with cowboy boots fit for the line-dancing occasion.
During the three hour event, the parking lot at the corner of North Main and Peirce Streets saw crowds enjoying group line-dancing, food and a mechanical bull.
Line dancers cast a shadow onto the parking lot. An organizer led the crowd through the line-dancing steps as country music set the pace.
Paula Fay, the President of the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library, said she expects the nonprofit to host more free, community events in the future at their lot on North Main and Peirce Streets.
During the line-dancing routine, attendees followed steps, spins and twirls that were instructed to them by an experienced line dancer. 
Kimberly Sousa, a Freetown resident, rides the mechanical bull at the “Dance the Night Away” event. Sousa said it was her first time ever riding a mechanical bull, and didn’t expect the ride to be so thrilling.
Cowboy hats for attendees to wear are piled on a table near the mechanical bull ride at Friday’s event.
Attendees line dance during the “Dance the Night Away” western-themed community event at the parking lot at North Main and Peirce streets on Friday, Aug. 1. Photos by Sam Tucker
Many attendees came prepared with cowboy boots fit for the line-dancing occasion.
During the three hour event, the parking lot at the corner of North Main and Peirce Streets saw crowds enjoying group line-dancing, food and a mechanical bull.
Line dancers cast a shadow onto the parking lot. An organizer led the crowd through the line-dancing steps as country music set the pace.
Paula Fay, the President of the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library, said she expects the nonprofit to host more free, community events in the future at their lot on North Main and Peirce Streets.
During the line-dancing routine, attendees followed steps, spins and twirls that were instructed to them by an experienced line dancer.
Kimberly Sousa, a Freetown resident, rides the mechanical bull at the “Dance the Night Away” event. Sousa said it was her first time ever riding a mechanical bull, and didn’t expect the ride to be so thrilling.
Cowboy hats for attendees to wear are piled on a table near the mechanical bull ride at Friday’s event.
MIDDLEBORO — The Friends of the Middleboro Public Library delivered a dose of Western-themed fun to downtown Middleboro on Friday, Aug. 1.
The “Dance the Night Away” event on Friday was hosted by the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library, at the parking lot at North Main and Peirce streets. Group line dancing — and a mechanical bull — brought residents together during the “First Friday” in Middleboro.
“We thought we would open this up tonight and try something a little different to bring people together — and it's obviously working,” said the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library President Paula Fay.
Fay said this is the first time the parking lot, which the group owns, has been used for an event. Until now, the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library have only used the lot to provide parking for residents using the library located across the street.
“We had no idea that we would get a crowd like this,” Fay said of the event turnout.
All of the concession sales and donations that are made at the nonprofit’s events go straight to their donation fund and event-hosting costs. Fay said every year, they usually spend about $16,000 to fund library programs and organize free, public events.
As the sunset’s glow casted over downtown Middleboro, country music played while attendees filtered through the Western-themed activities. The event was held on Friday to coincide with “First Friday”, a town-led initiative to spur business by organizing stores and restaurants to open later on the first Friday of every month.
“It's great to see a lot of people out here enjoying some line dancing, and it’s a great way to meet people,” said Erin Brouillette, a Tiverton resident.
While the music played, a group of about 30 people danced in-line while the country music gave the cowboy-boot-clad crowd a beat to step to. The squeaking of the mechanical bull could also be heard as families danced and enjoyed food from Middleboro catering business Main Ingredient.
“It's wonderful to have these kinds of events. We're a home school family, and we like to get out and see all the stuff that the communities have,” said Carly Palie, a Lakeville resident who brought her family to Friday’s event.
Aubrey Palie, 8, said her favorite festivity at the event was the mechanical bull-ride, something she had never done before.
“It was fun, but kind of scary,” Aubrey said.
Both attendees and organizers said the evening of line-dancing was a “hit”, and it served as an example for what the parking lot on Main Street can be used for in the future.
“Looking at the turnout here tonight… you can expect us to make more use of this parking lot. I would say we'll definitely come back and do something here,” Fay said.
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