MATTAPOISETT — During schooltime, the lawn beside the building that houses both Center School and the Mattapoisett Council on Aging typically isn’t available to the latter agency.

But it’s still summertime, and with school also still a couple weeks away, many took to the verdant slice off Barstow Street for a midday cookout held Friday, Aug. 16 by the Council on Aging.

Jacqueline Seney, the Mattapoisett Council on Aging’s executive director, said the event celebrated summer and “everybody who can come and celebrate with us.”

Due to family changes or life changes, a lot of people might not have the opportunity to partake in cookouts anymore, Seney said.

“This lets those people who want to celebrate summer to come and do it with a community,” she said.

As “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies and “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison played, attendees gathered at tables clothed with watermelon-themed sheets. Smoke produced by the firing of hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken swelled over. Donna Smith, a volunteer, introduced a bottle and wand for blowing bubbles to one table.

The hope is the cookout becomes an annual event, one at which “people can come and socialize” and “just have fun,” according to Seney.  

Past the food and the seats shaded by trees and tents, a collection of lawn games had been set up too. Enhancing things even further were the pleasant conditions.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Seney said.