Introducing Going to the Festival
- Jodi-Tatiana Charles
- Mar 1
- 5 min read
March 1, 2026
It is March 1st. I am at the tail end of the flu. We are recovering from the Blizzard of 2026, and deliveries have been delayed. Not ideal launch day energy.
Today is the official launch of my second children’s book, Going to the Festival
This book has been two years in the making.
In 2022, I was approached to run a historic festival in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and serve as its board president. I had been asked before and declined. I had volunteered for the event for the past ten years. I was raised to show up for what I care about.
I had seen the workload and the personalities. When they asked again, my instinct was no.
What changed was the number of people who genuinely wanted me to lead. So I said yes.
Joining any board requires clarity. You must know why you are saying yes, why you will stay during the hard parts, and why it matters at the end. I had many reasons to step in. There were also difficult moments.
A small group resisted change. They did not want someone new. They did not want someone who looked like me. Whether it was age, background, or gender, it was clear something about me made them uncomfortable. At times, it was cruel.
The first year was hard. Many new ideas were challenged. A vibrant group kept pushing forward.
And yet that resistance was outnumbered by incredible people. Volunteers. Business owners. Families. Community members who wanted the festival to thrive.
That first year at the festival, it rained constantly. Still, the community showed up. Stores and restaurants reported stronger holiday revenue than they had seen in years. Families came out. Returning and new visitors came into town. People publicly thanked me for bringing new energy and visibility to the event.
At the end of that year, I received a community leadership award. I found out while overseas, still running my company and volunteering. Life did not slow down.
Ironically, recognition intensified the negativity. The second year brought new challenges.
A neighbor once asked, “Are you the young lady who ran the festival?” I said yes. “You did an amazing job. We were waiting for you to fail.”
OUCH!
But I showed up.
My family and friends showed up. The community showed up.
In the second year, we extended the festival and added events. There were more opportunities for all ages, for introverts and extroverts, for the active and the not so active. I challenged committees to elevate their programming, and they did. The weather was beautiful, though the fireworks barge malfunctioned. The year before, fog hid the fireworks from our own town. Imperfect circumstances both years.
And yet both years were spectacular. Nearly 600 volunteers supported the festival over two years. The economic impact was real.
Weekly conversations with retailers and business owners shaped the programming. Monthly meetings with our police chief and fire chief ensured their needs were met and that nothing went wrong on our watch.
Restaurants were full. Stores were busy. Families gathered. Visitors from surrounding towns and beyond were welcomed and continued to return. The energy was undeniable.
What I did not fully appreciate at the time was how much good was happening. I was exhausted from defending against the bad. When it ended, I paused. I questioned whether I wanted to keep living in a place I love because the negativity felt loud.
During that regrouping period, I walked around town and reflected on what had happened. I remembered children running through the streets, families reconnecting, artists setting up booths at sunrise, volunteers giving up their weekends year after year. I thought about the fair in Brockton when I was young, the outdoor events I have experienced during my travels, and the tradition of my family gathering annually in the Caribbean for Carnival.
Festivals are not trivial. They support local businesses, connect generations, and create shared memory. Across all of our states, organizers, volunteers, donors, grants, and sponsors make these events possible year after year. They bring new ideas, art, music, culture, and connection into public space.
That reflection became this book.
Going to the Festival brings together my life experiences, especially those two intense years. It represents the beauty of festivals, fairs, and carnivals everywhere. It honors volunteers who work tirelessly. It celebrates families, artists, small businesses, and communities that gather year after year.
Yes, there was negativity. But it was less than one percent of the story. The overwhelming majority was dedication, generosity, and pride. That is what this book carries forward.
This project has meant more to me than I can easily put into words. Julia Potvin, my illustrator, brought my words to life with care and imagination. Alexandra Kahveci, our editor, pushed me to make every page stronger. We already have close to 100 preorders, which truly humbles me.
So today, on this chilly March 1st, I am inviting you into this world.
Support your local bookstore. Ask your library to carry it. Bring it into your schools. Create your own mini festival in your classroom or neighborhood.
Thank you for being part of this journey. This story belongs to all of us who believe that community still matters.
Welcome to Going to the Festival.
I am grateful for the partners who are already supporting this project, and I welcome others who would like to join us.
Thank you to Gene Arnould and Matt and Danielle Noyes.
MY ORDERING ASK:
Buy or donate our book directly from us https://www.lcgbrands.com/going-to-the-festival one of our retail partners Arnould Gallery & Framery 111 Washington St, Marblehead, MA 01945
OR directly from a small independent book store https://bookshop.org/pages/bookstores
If it is easier, and I understand life is busy, the book is also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and BAM!
My hope is simple. I want this book to travel through conversation, partnership, and shared enthusiasm. Word of mouth has always been the most powerful marketing tool for children’s literature, especially when families, educators, and community leaders believe in what a story represents.
We are intentionally building awareness now so that it carries directly into April, one of the most important months for children’s reading. With National Library Week, International Children’s Book Day, and National Poetry Month all shining a spotlight on literacy, April offers a natural opportunity for wider visibility, school engagement, and community participation.
By strengthening partnerships and encouraging early supporters to share the book within their own networks, we aim to enter April with growing traction, trusted advocates, and expanding reach.
Sponsor:
Community events rely heavily on the weather, which makes 1DegreeOutside a natural partner. https://1degreeoutside.com/
1DegreeOutside is an independent, Boston-based weather company founded by veteran meteorologists Matt and Danielle Noyes. After decades leading New England television weather coverage, they launched a digital-first platform delivering trusted forecasts through a 5-star mobile app, a 24/7 streaming network, and private forecasting services for municipalities, campuses, and organizations. Their work focuses on translating complex weather into clear, reliable guidance for everyday decisions.
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