Is there a downside to Yankee Homecoming?
Wonderful Yankee Homecoming, Newburyport’s week long festival of live music, fresh food, and entertaining events ranging from parades to road races is highly anticipated by almost everyone within a 30 mile radius.
Most can fondly remember the smell of crisp kettle corn wafting over a crowd of thousands lounging on the waterfront listening to their favorite band or singer play live. The sight of smiling kids weaving through the crowd with ice cream cones larger than their faces. Sidewalk sales for miles.
Who on earth could possibly dislike Yankee Homecoming?
Me. Well, half the time. When I am enjoying the festival, it is great. However when I am working, it is the most dreaded week of the year.
My fervent hatred for working during Yankee Homecoming begins with my drive to work. A simple 7 minute drive across the Hines Bridge and down Merrimac Street becomes a mad dash against the clock filled with stop and go traffic and pedestrians crossing the street when and where they should not be. On the first night of Yankee Homecoming, it took me 22 minutes before arriving at the public parking lot.
Which brings me to reason number two why Yankee Homecoming ruins my work week. Parking.
As if finding downtown parking isn’t already difficult (and expensive!), the festival makes it a nearly impossible task. All public parking lots are completely full at almost all times. As a result, I am forced to leave my house for work at least 10 minutes early just to have time to roam around the parking lot in circles hoping to find a car leaving, only to then fight to the death with a tourist for the spot.
After fighting through the crowds of people filling Inn Street, I finally arrive at my shop.
Within a second of opening the door, my stress level sky rockets. The typically busy parlor is literally overflowing during Yankee Homecoming week. A double-staffed group of employees hurries around trying to accommodate customers growing increasingly angry that their frozen treat is melting. Shifts are changing and as many people begin to look relieved that they are now free to go home, I realize that my long night is just beginning.
A huge increase of customers causes a huge increase in irritability.
Every employee is moving as quickly and doing as much as they can yet there are just too many customers to keep each one satisfied. Treats are dropped every 5 minutes and just once you’ve finished cleaning one, 2 more are dropped. Customers get angry when a product is running low, when the line is moving too slowly, or when toppings are becoming messy. It is a constant race from one task to the next all while trying to keep everyone in the building pleased.
When it is finally time to close, we are unable to do so because the flow of customers just has not stopped.
“Sorry, we’re actually closed!” We say as friendly as possible to the couple that has just walked through the door 10 minutes after closing.
“Oh don’t worry, we’ll be quick!” They insist as they push past us.
After finally locking all the doors and cleaning up all the messes, we are free to go.
At this point a few stragglers are left wandering around town as I walk to my car. The walk across downtown seems to be miles long and I swear that I’ve parked closer than where I can now see my car faintly shining in the distance.
I eventually reach my safe haven and climb inside. As I’m driving away I can’t help but think that I will have to do it all again tomorrow.