MARBLEHEAD — With the summer Olympics underway, there’s no better time for an Olympic neighborhood celebration. The town’s Mystic and Florence Roads Neighborhood Association went all out with this theme.
The association has been a hub of social activities since the 1930s. Once known as Leggs Hill Park, the neighborhood celebration paid homage to the area’s history and tradition of strengthening community.
“I love the history of this neighborhood,” Colleen Connor said.
“This neighborhood is amazing,” Betsy Gay added.
Eight households hosted the neighborhood party and each house represented a different country. France, Jamaica, the United States, Italy, Mexico, Greece, Morocco, and Germany were represented in the celebration.
Each home flew their country’s flag, played a genre of music from the country, and offered a cocktail, appetizers, and a family-friendly activity embodying the spirit of their adopted nation.
“I like that we always make sure the kids have an activity,“ Connor said. ”Every one of these events, the kids have something to do.”
The opening ceremony began in Paris, where a variety of croissants, mimosas, and rosé were offered and the activity was pin the mustache on the Mona Lisa.
Children were given passports and paraded from house to house to the tune of the Olympic anthem, with a real Olympic torch from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
There were a number of highlights from the different houses as well.
The U.S.A. offered lemonade, and apple and blueberry pie, while fencing and hopscotch were the activities.
Jamaica had jerk chicken salad, rum punch, and speed-walking for the kids and moms.
Italy offered the Italian lawn game bocce, Aperol spritzes, and homemade pizzas from the Breeo pizza oven.
Mexico had margaritas, horchata, pork tacos, multiple salsas, and taco-shaped pinatas.
Greece offered Greek meatballs, baklava, grape leaves, and spanakopita. Ouzo and Greek wines were provided and Greco-Roman thumb wars and arm wrestling were the activities, along with photo props.
Morocco had chicken tagine, couscous, and shortbread, as well as mint tea. Ping pong, badminton, and tennis were the activities, with the goal of hitting the ball through rings.
Germany offered Bavarian pretzels, frankfurters, German beer, and freestyle swimming.
This was the fourth Olympics celebration the association has celebrated over the years. Mystic and Florence Roads also holds yearly celebrations like Oktoberfest, a holiday party in December, and a Fourth of July cookout.
“It’s a good way to build community,” Doris Hawthorne said.
