Mount Greylock Ramble, Ramblefest Return to Adams
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ADAMS, Mass. — The party before the Columbus Day hike up Mount Greylock has returned for its second year.
Ramblefest, a party to complement the annual Mount Greylock Ramble, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13, the day before the hike.
Festival organizers are using the same formula of a bonfire, live music and various food and beverage vendors that has proven successful in three previous events.
"People seem to enjoy it," said Pro Adams board member Andrea Stump. "We just hope for good weather and look forward to a lot of people."
The Pro Adams group first organized Thunderfest in 2012 to accompany the annual ski race down Mount Greylock. The group returned in fall that year to put on the first Ramblefest. This year's Ramblefest begins at 1 p.m. at the Adams Visitors Center, rain or shine.
The festival features six local food vendors, Wandering Star Brewery serving beer, children's games, trolley rides around downtown historic properties featuring historians in period garb talking about the town's past, food demonstrations and music from Dublin Porter and Rebel Alliance.
"There is a whole kids section with games and pumpkin decorating," Stump added to the list.
The intent is to showcase local businesses, promote the town, bring people downtown and help build up the Ramble. This fest will also feature the unveiling of new exhibits in the Thunderbolt Ski Museum in the visitors center.
The Thunderbolt Ski Runners received a $1,000 grant from the New England Ski Museum that allowed the group to install three video kiosks and upgrade some of the exhibits.
The kiosks will show 2 to 3 minute videos about the historic Thunderbolt ski trail and race, the return of the race and the 10th Mountain Division. A new graphics package about Adams' most famous Thunderbolt skier, Rudy Konieczny, will also be on display.
In previous years, Ramblefest has attracted hundreds of people and has been embraced by town officials. Pro Adams is a group of residents who banded together to promote the town.
"We're proud of our little town," Stump said.
The Ramble will happen on Monday when thousands of hikers will take to the Cheshire Harbor Trail starting at 8 a.m. The first 2,000 hikers will receive certificates for making it to the top and the awards will be given to the first to the top, the youngest, oldest and the hiker who traveled the greatest distance to participate. This year is the 46th year of the Ramble.
Tags: festival, hiking, Mount Greylock, Ramblefest, Thunderbolt, Thunderfest,
