Downtown Celebration Set For Wednesday, Aug. 15
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The 22nd annual Downtown Celebration will fill downtown North Adams with more than 100 vendors and entertainers on Wednesday, Aug. 15, from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
This event is free. In the case of inclement weather, an announcement will be made on Wednesday morning and the rain date will be Thursday, Aug. 16.
The event will feature plenty of music: JP Murphy will be performing by the Bus Stop starting at 6; Champagne Jam will perform at the Berkshire Bank Plaza; the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers will be performing African drumming at the southwest side of Main Street starting around 7 p.m.; and the Bad Art Ensemble will hit the new Eagle Street Stage at 7 p.m.
There will be performances throughout the evening by local groups, including the Berkshire County Line Dancers, Studio North Dance, J Star Gymnastics, North Adams Youth Cheerleaders, and the Drury High School Cheerleaders.
Balloon creatures and creations will be offered by Balloon Ben, Linda Peck aka Mary Poppins, and Greylock Federal Credit Union. Also, Johnny Mystic will bring his magic back to Main Street while Serenity Circles will bring her hula hoops back to Eagle Street.
The First Baptist Church will have a bouncy house set up on Main Street near the CCB Kid Zone.
Eagle Street will see its own share of activities, including BikeFest, which will feature a bike rodeo, adaptive bikes, practice bike lane, bicycle education and safety tips, free bike maintenance, and bike decorating. Also, the NAMAzing Eagle Street Initiative will hold a ribbon cutting for the new street pillars at 6:30 p.m. Auxiliary VFW Post 996 and Kim’s Kuts will be holding fundraiser on the south end of the street by Main, and BAD ART Ensemble will be performing on the north end of the street near Village Pizza at 7 p.m.
The North Adams fire and police departments will be at the top of Main near Eagle with vehicles and demonstrations. An extra special treat this year, the Pittsfield PD Copsicle and Officer Friendly will be in attendance, as well. And the North Adams Ambulance Service will be offering free car seat safety checks in the Steeple City Plaza parking lot. (Use the Summer Street entrances.)
There also will be plenty to eat. Downtown restaurants and cafes will be open, and street food will be available from Marki's French Fries, M+J's Taste of Home, new food truck Tres Ninos, Ramunto's, Mr. Ding-a-ling, Christo's and Boston Seafood, which will be bringing a BBQ chicken dinner. There will be giveaways of water, popcorn, candy and sno-cones, and there will be plenty of bake sales by local nonprofits, plus one lemonade stand, as well.
As always, the Child Care of the Berkshires Kid Zone offers games, activities and free face painting. Berkshire Nursing Families offers a family area where families are welcome to rest, nurse, feed, or change their babies and relax.
And more than 100 vendors and entertainers this year will be offering information, giveaways, clothing, jewelry, handcrafted soaps, decor, and more. Restrooms will be available on the corner of Holden Street and Main Street thanks to A1's support.
There will be no parking allowed on Main Street, Eagle Street, or north Church Street after 1 p.m. on the day of the celebration and the streets will close by 3 p.m. Cars that remain parked on these streets will be towed at the owner's expense. For more information, call 413-664-6180.
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