Fall Foliage Festival Features Fairs, Contests, Parade01:21PM / Thursday, September 24, 2009
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Fall Foliage Festival will be kicking off this Saturday with a multitude of events over the weeklong celebration of the region's autumn colors.
The annual Charity Bed Race starts the festival on Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon on Main Street. (There's still time to enter.) It culminates with the 54th annual Fall Foliage Parade, "Taste of the Berkshires," on Sunday, Oct. 4, with Grand Marshal Carl Jenkins. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. from Walmart and continues north on Route 8 and up Main Street.
The parade will also feature the Budweiser Clydesdales, who will be in the city beginning Monday, Sept. 28.
While not technically part of Fall Foliage, the annual Fall Run, now in its 28th year, has become an autumn tradition. It roars Adams on Sunday, beginning from Bowe Field at 11 a.m. down Route 8 and Park Street, then up Route 116 on its way to Mohawk Park in Charlemont. The run benefits Shriners Hospital.
Also on Sunday is the annual Children's Road Race and Family Festival, held this year at Joe Wolf Field. Race registration begins at 11:30 for toddlers up to age 11; race starts at 12:30. Fair runs from 12;30 to 3:30 with games, activities and refreshments for sale.
The Phantom Leaf Hunt starts Saturday. A ziti supper at St. Elizabeth's is set for Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 7.
The Children's Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. Inventive costumes encouraged. Participants will gather starting at 5 on Eagle Street, then march down Main Street to City Hall, where trophies and prizes will be awarded for costumes.
The 6th Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 to 3 on the sidewalk of the north side of Main Street and will feature the work of an estimated 20 crafters, artists and artisans.
Photographs, handcrafted jewelry, ceramics and more will be featured. Local craft and artisan shops will also be represented and food will be available. All work is handmade by the artist/crafter and of good quality.
It runs concurrently with the Northern Berkshire Youth ROPES Program Family Fun Day to benefit Northern Berkshire youth in Grades 5 and 6. The ROPES program is an adventure-based challenge course that teaches self-esteem and team work. The facilitators include police officers, teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians from Northern Berkshire towns.
The day will begin with a pancake breakfast at the VFW on Route 2 at 9, followed by a 60-mile motorcycle ride at 11 a.m. A classic car and motorcycle show, climbing wall, food, raffle, music and vendors begins at noon on Main Street.
Two eating contests are sceduled for the afternoon on Oct. 3. First up is a beginning of a college rivalry as Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts versus Williams College in the first annual Jack's Hot Dog contest at 2 p.m. Then at 3, the boys in blue line up for the Cop Doughnut Eating Contest.
For more information on the Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival or the Northern Berkshire Youth ROPES program Family Fun Day, call Sharon Leary at 413-664-5404 or John LeClair at 413-664-4945.
For more information on Fall Foliage Week, see the full event schedule or contact the Mayor's Office of Tourism at northadamstourist1@yahoo.com. |
