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Big bash for local business: SummerFest in Greenfield this weekend

 

By ANITA FRITZ

Recorder Staff

Wednesday, July 15, 2015
(Published in print: Thursday, July 16, 2015)

GREENFIELD — SummerFest will bring sidewalk sales to the downtown on both Friday and Saturday, and a block party to Main Street on Saturday.

Greenfield Business Association will once again bring the annual summer event, which includes sidewalk sales that feature downtown businesses, as well as outside vendors, to Main Street.

SummerFest will be held Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“This is an event for the entire family,” said GBA Coordinator Caitlin von Schmidt. “There will be live music on Friday, when Silver Lake plays on the Town Common starting at noon.”

Then, all sorts of activities will happen on Saturday, said Von Schmidt. Main Street will be closed to traffic from Federal to Wells streets for the block party on Saturday, she said.

A decorated bike and stroller parade, a live broadcast by WHAI and Bear Country, a dunking booth, dance demonstrations, Foster’s Supermarket’s pie eating contest and more will be held on Saturday and parking in municipal parking lots will be free.

The parade, which will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday, will be led by Grand Marshall Mayor William Martin.

Von Schmidt said people should arrive with bikes and strollers already decorated, but there will be materials available at the face painting tent on the Town Common to get them decorated between 9 and 10 a.m.

Four prizes will be awarded to several participants after the parade — best decorated bike in both kid and adult categories, as well as best decorated strollers and bikes for teams.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, WHAI and Bear Country, hosted by Matt Gregory in front of Wilson’s Department Store, will sign people up to qualify for $1,000 in free gas, and at 1:30 on Main Street near Veterans Mall two Foster’s pie eating contests will be held — one for children ages 12 and under and another for those ages 13 and older.

A dunking booth will be set up on the corner of Chapman and Main streets on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. State Rep. Paul Mark, Precinct 5 Town Councilor Penny Ricketts, Greenfield School Superintendent Jordana Harper, WHAI’s Nick Danjer, Hope and Olive restaurant owner Jim Zaccara, Greenfield Community College President Robert Pura, Greenfield High School’s Angela Mass, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County Executive Director Danielle Letourneau-Therrien and Von Schmidt will take half-hour shifts. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Greenfield Fire Department ladder truck will provide a mist from its ladder truck to cool people off at the corner of Miles and Main streets.

Greenfield Farmers Market will be open all morning, as usual, on Court Square.

“SummerFest is our biggest event of the year, and it’s a great way to show off our amazing downtown and the shopping and eating opportunities we have year-round,” said Von Schmidt. “Plus, there’s the fun of checking out visiting vendors and taking part in all the extra activities we have on Saturday when we get to shut down Main Street.”

For more information, call the GBA at 413-774-2791 or email: gba@franklincc.org. Also visit the GBA on Facebook or at:

www.greenfieldbusiness.org