Fifes and Drums in Sudbury, 25 Sept.

I took this photograph at the 2003 Sudbury Colonial Faire and Muster of Fyfe & Drum. It was the first time I’d seen the William Diamond Junior Fife & Drums Corps, which had formed the previous year.

Since then that corps’ repertoire and uniforms have both become more elaborate. For all I know some of the musicians above are in concert halls or operating rooms or Congress.

The 2021 Sudbury Colonial Faire is scheduled to take place this Saturday, 25 September, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. It will be hosted as usual by the Sudbury Companies of Militia & Minute and the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe & Drum Companie on the grounds of Longfellow’s Wayside Inn. Admission is $3 for adults, free for children.

The outdoor fair features dozens of fife and drums corps, sutlers, crafts demonstrations, games, contra dances, and lots more, including food vendors for the hungry. The Grand Parade of music will begin at noon, and then each group will perform on the field over the course of the afternoon.