North Adams Downtown Celebration Set Wednesday
 Thousands attended last year's Downtown Celebration. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's 18th annual Downtown Celebration returns Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Main, Holden and Eagle streets.
The yearly street festival brings thousands Downtown for food, shopping, entertainment and conversation. More than 100 participants, including local merchants, vendors, restaurants and organizations are expected this year, offering refreshments, games, crafts, raffles and information.
This year the celebration offers more carnival-type performances and activities. Attendees can expect to see stilt walkers, magicians, and a large-scale public painting project on Holden St. in addition to live music and dance performances throughout the evening.
Art About Town will once again give the community the opportunity to transform Holden Street into a kaleidoscope of color and images. This year's theme is "Express Yourself." So bring your imagination, vision, creativity, family and help Art About Town volunteers paint the street.
Quite a few organizations are offering activities for families to enjoy. The First Baptist Church will host a children's activity area with bounce-houses and food. This will be located on Main Street, near Sleepy's.
The Northern Berkshire Christian Church, which will be located in front of the Berkshire Bank Plaza, is sponsoring a series of activities and services that will all be offered to the public at no cost. People can listen to music, eat hot dogs, play children's games or even get a manicure or a haircut for free.
Childcare of the Berkshires will host a children's area at the mouth of the Steeple City Plaza parking lot with activities, games, and information to keep little ones and their parents entertained.
The celebration will also include performances, readings, and demonstrations from a variety of groups. Bands and musicians will include Champagne Jam, Miss Guided, DJ, Elixer, and One Way Out. Performers will include poetry readings by The Rambling Poets, magician Johnny Mystic, street performer Linda Peck, stiltwalker Sam from the Grasshopper Collective, Berkshire Dance Theater, Berkshire Line Dancers, Dysfunk Crew, J Star Gymnastics and Zumba of the Berkshires.
Adams Community Bank, one of the sponsors, will be handing out free fans and sunglasses in front of the North Adams branch at 31 Eagle St. Bowey the Clown will be there to entertain the children with free balloon art and free face painting from 5:30 to 8:30. Its Walk to End Alzheimer’s team will also have a table and will be selling locally crafted scarves, candles, jams and jellies.
There will be no parking allowed on Main or Eagle Street after 1 p.m. on the day of the celebration. Cars that remain parked on these streets will be towed at the owner's expense.
Downtown Celebration also is sponsored by Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union and Mountain One Bank, a MountainOne Financial Partner. This event is free and open to the public. In the event of rain, the celebration will be held Thursday, Aug. 15.
Tags: block party, downtown, street fair,
