Free New Bedford Family Fest Returns With Fun, Resources and Help

A total of 41 community organizations are joining together to plan an informative and fun day for parents and their children in New Bedford. Family Fest 2026 will take place on May 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center on Hillman Street.

What to Expect at Family Fest 2026 in New Bedford

Family Fest is completely free. Young people can take part in a variety of fun activities, while their parents receive valuable information about programs available for their kids, for this coming summer and year-round programs.

Kathy Treglia is one of the organizers of the event. She visited Townsquare Sunday to talk about Family Fest and how young people can benefit.

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A Growing Event for New Bedford Families

"Family Fest has been around for five years now," Treglia said. "Community groups in New Bedford that work on behalf of children felt it would be important to have a resource fair for families sometime in the spring to help them decide what opportunities would be available for their children in the summer."

"Since then, we've been getting bigger and better every year, and more and more families have attended," she said.

Treglia said that last year more than 400 people attended the event.

"Really, it's a resource for the parents. So while the parents are learning and talking with representatives of these different agencies, we have activities for the kids," she said. "It might be bubbles, arts and crafts, an obstacle course, or listening to storytellers. There's plenty for them to do."

Helping Parents Find Programs and Scholarships

Treglia said many parents are often surprised to learn that most of the programs available for their kids are offering scholarships to help families cover the cost. "Now is the time for parents to apply for scholarships, because they do go quickly," she said.

"The groups are there to help parents navigate what can be a very confusing system," Treglia said. "This event is to give parents a choice to find a niche that works for them, a time that works for them, and a price that works for them."

Food Trucks and More On Site

Food trucks will also be on site, selling a variety of options for those who get hungry.