ATHOL — Ready to rock around the block?
The 34th annual Athol Fall Festival is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and various musical acts are slated to provide entertainment for the 5,000 to 10,000 people estimated to show up downtown. Artists such as Hillary Chase and Myra MacLeod & Friends are slated to perform, and The Relics will play at The Atholl House’s beer garden.
The festival is organized by the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. Executive Director Mark Wright said attendance varies depending on the weather, but there is always plenty for families to do.
“We have 100 vendor spots filled and there’s anything you can imagine — street food, crafts, handmade jewelry, handmade organic soaps. Organizations will be there with raffles. They’ll be activities for kids,” he said.
The rain date is Sept. 24.
Athol Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski said the festival offers residents and visitors a chance to enjoy the vendors and events on Main Street without dealing with vehicular traffic.
“I can’t say enough about the efforts of our downtown businesses and the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce for their efforts to make the festival fun for all ages,” Suhoski said. “I also commend the Decorating Committee for their remarkable work in adorning the downtown district with American flags and generally keeping things looking great.”
Wright said one of the festival’s most popular features is the auction slated for 11 a.m. He said vendors donated goods and there will be 60 to 70 items — ranging from $25 to $400 in value — up for bidding. Wright also said there will be a “super raffle” in which 400 tickets are sold for $100 apiece for the chance to win $10,000.
RaeAnne Meunier, who co-owns The Atholl House with Brian Dodge, said this will be the second year they have hosted a beer garden. She said beer and hard cider will be on tap and a limited menu will be offered.
The Athol Board of Selectmen earlier this month issued The Atholl House a one-day license for alcohol consumption on town property.