Fall Foliage Festival Kicks Off This Weekend
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The weeklong celebration of the region's fabulous foliage kicks off this weekend with the Fall Foliage Festival.The events begin with a new Harvest Festival on Saturday and culminates on Sunday, Oct. 3, with the 55th annual Fall Foliage Parade with the theme "Our Heroes" that marches down Curran Highway and through the heart of the city.
In between will be events for all ages and varied interests, made possible by surge in interest this year, said Parade Director Rod Bunt.
"It seems more intense and better attended with more diverse committees working on a lot of things," said Bunt on Wednesday. "We've always had great events. But some these, in any other season, they would standalone."
Bunt, director of the North Adams Office of Tourism, said the volunteer committees have been working hard on each of their events to create a great foliage week for residents and visitors.
The events begin on Saturday, Sept. 25, with the release of clues for the popular Fall Foliage Leaf Hunt. Geared toward residents (but not impossible for the visitor with some local knowledge), participants seek out "leaves" scattered about North Berkshire with the help of obscure hints. iBerkshires will have the information on the Leaf Hunt on Saturday.
The farmers' market continues through the end of October on Saturdays from 8 to noon at the St. Anthony Municipal Parking Lot.
What is hoped to be the first of many Harvest Festivals kicks off at 11 on Saturday at Western Gateway Heritage State Park. Bunt said the fest is the brainstorm of Alicia Cellana, who's been working with Robert Campanile at the park.
"She had the idea of having this great harvest fest," said Bunt. "She really put most of this together herself."
The festival runs to 3 with demonstrations of log-hewing, broom making, weaving, butter churning, and Indian Pump target practice. The Department of Conservation and Recreation will have a Civilian Conservation Corps Truck at hand, and homemade ice cream and jams, jellies, preserves, maple syrup and seasonal produce will be available from Justamere Tree Farm, Jaeschke Orchards and Annie of Sunshine Bagels.
Information on Target: Hunger and the new community-supported Square Roots Farm will be available. There will also be games and a scavenger hunt and music by Cider Mountain Jammers. Family films will be shown in the Visitors' Center.
If your idea of autumn means Oktoberfest, you're in luck. Freight Yard Pub will have traditional German foods and beers under the tent along with giveaways.
On your way to the festival, drop off "anything with a plug" or paper you need shredded at St. John's Episcopal Church ecycling event from 9 to 1 in the former Kmart parking lot. There's a sliding scale electronics and monitors and a goodwill donation will be accepted for shredding paper.
Sunday is kids' day with the return of the Children's Road Race and Family Fair at Noel Field Athletic Complex from 12:30 to 3:30. The fair was first introduced by Northern Berkshire United Way some two decades ago and the agency has stepped up to take over once again the organization and running of both events.
"Although we've had help from different organizations, it's really being run by the NBUW," said Bunt. "We've streamlined the registration process for the foot race ... we get anywhere from 80 to 110 kids."
Having the NBUW and its new Executive Director Joseph W. McGovern on board's a lif-saver if the weather doesn't cooperate; Fall Festival volunteers' time is locked up so if it rains, as it has in the past, there was no time to set a rain date.
"They get so disappointed if it's canceled," said Bunt. "We feel good Joe's taking it over so even it if gets canceled, they can make it up."
The rain date is Oct. 2 but only a few clouds are expected over the weekend. Registration for the foot race begins at 11:30 at Joe Wolf Field; there will be five divisions each for boys and girls based on ages tots to 11. Trophies will be awarded for the top three finishers in each category at 2.
The fair, geared towards children and teens, will feature entertainment, refreshments, games, learning activities, giveaways, and information booths.
The following weekend offers a host of events on Saturday, including a bigger and better Arts & Crafts Fair. Jennifer Barbeau is credited with pumping up the crafting component, which has been pretty anemic the past few years.
"Unlike the past where there have been less than a couple dozen tables set up on Main Street sidewalk, this year there will be nearly 80 tents and 10x10-foot booth spaces filling much of Main Street and Holden Street," wrote Creations owner Keith Bona, who is also a city councilor.
The fair runs from 9 to 4 and local merchants and galleries are encouraged to get in on the action. Another draw to the downtown will be activities to benefit the local ROPES program, including a Jack's Hot Dog Eating Contest and, hopefully, another round of cops eating doughnuts. The food contests were run last year to great success despite a cold, drizzly day. What won't be happening is the 4th annual Bed Race. The popular event is being put on hold this year after several committee members stepped down because of other commitments. Bed Race organizer Brian Flagg will be at the microphone on Sunday to narrate the parade.
Other events on Saturday include a Car Show and a bouncey bounce on Main Street; a Fun Run at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the morning; the Fall Foliage Dance at the Eagles that night. New this year will be a Dog Day of Fall Walk for the area's canines beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the farmers' market. The puppy parade will be march to the Berkshire Plaza where prizes will be awared in various categories, including costume.
"Between those things, we have a really nice day," said Bunt. "It's going to be just a blast downtown."
And speaking of costumes, the annual Children's Parade kicks off at 5:30 at the corner of Eagle and Main streets on Friday.
Other events are the annual Ziti Supper at St. Elizabeth's Parish Hall on Thursday from 4 to 7; a DJ at the Elks and the 7th annual gospel festival at First Congregational Church, both on Friday; the breakfast and barbecue at the Eagles on Sunday; the 5k Fall Foliage Race on Sunday morning and, finally, the parade with at least eight floats on Sunday. Float master builder Bruce Hayden is busy at work but could use some 6-foot volunteers to play the parts of superheroes. MCLA athletes, actors and others can contact the tourism office for more information.
For a full list of events and times, click here.
"It really is cool because there are a lot of very different things going on in town now," said Bunt.
