TURNERS FALLS — It’s that time of year again — Great Falls Festival is downtown today, where there will be plenty of pumpkins, live music and other activities.
“It’s an event that caters to all ages,” said coordinator Michael Nelson. “It’s always exciting to me to see what vendors there are. Every year they bring something unique and different. It’s great. We have quite a variety of activities.”
Throughout the day, there will be children’s activities, such as pumpkin painting, and those that submit painted pumpkins or carved pumpkins to the festival will have the chance to spin a wheel and win a prize.
The event will take up six blocks of the downtown for the day, with many downtown businesses participating.
Music of many genres will play throughout the event.
Scott Kuzmeskus, the director of entertainment for the festival, said touted the local bands this year.
“We have a wide variety for many generations,” Kuzmeskus said. “Out of the nine years, this year is the most unique lineup. We encourage everyone to come dance and listen to music.”
This year’s bands include Date Night, Mister Right Now and Decades.
“This event is to showcase what the town has to offer. We’re an old mill town going through a revitalization,” Kuzmeskus said.
Parking is available at the Sheffield Elementary School and the Turners Falls High School, with shuttles running to the festival every 10 or 15 minutes throughout the day.
There is a beer garden located in Peskeomskut Park at Avenue A and 7th Street. Festival-goers must be 21 or older to enter, and all must show valid photo identification.
The beer garden will offer multiple styles of beers and ciders from area brewers Berkshire Brewing, Element, Lefty’s, The People’s Pint, Brick and Feather and Hitchcock and Headwater Cider, according to Chad Cadran, beer garden director.
“Being an avid fan of craft beer myself, I always love watching everyone get together to share something in common. Listening to and engaging in conversation you hear what people like, don’t like and why — it is fun!” Cadran said. “I have lived in this area my entire life, and nothing brings a smile to my face more than looking up the avenue from the 7th Street intersection and seeing all the happy people visiting our little town.”
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — The pumpkin check-in opens, in front of St. Kazimierz Society.
11 a.m. — Avenue A closes and event set-up begins
Noon to 6 p.m. — Second pumpkin check-in station opens on Second Street and Avenue A
2 p.m. — Great Falls Fest begins and vendors and beer garden opens
2 to 6 p.m. — Free children’s activities located on Third Street
2 to 6 p.m. — Free Pumpkin Decorating for all ages, located on Second Street and Avenue A
2 to 9 p.m. — Karen’s Dance Studio will perform in Peskeomskut Park hourly
2 to 3:30 p.m. — Fortified Blues Band will perform on Scotty’s Stage in the park
2 to 3:20 p.m. — Music by Date Night begins at Lundgren Stage located at Fourth Street and Avenue A
2 to 3 p.m. — North County Line Dancers performance starts at Third Street and Avenue A
3 to 3:45 p.m. — F.C. Community Chorus performance starts at 3rd Street and Avenue A
3:20, 5:10 and 7 p.m. — Robie Bones performance at Lundgren Stage
3:40 – 5:10 p.m. — Music by Mister Right Now starts at Lundgren Stage
3:40 to 5:10 p.m. — Music by Decades begins at Scotty’s Stage
4 to 5 p.m. — Pizazz Dance Studio Performance Third Street and Avenue A
5 to 6 p.m. — MEGADance Fitness Performance Third Street and Avenue A
5:30 to 7 p.m. — Music by Curly Fingers Dupree begins at the Lundgren Stage
5:30 to 7 p.m. — Music by The Feldons starts at Scotty’s Stage
About 6 p.m. — Fire dancers performance starts at Third Street and Avenue A
7:20 to 8:30 p.m. — Music by Mass Floyd begins at Lundgren Stage
7:20 to 8:30 p.m. — Music by Jimmy Just Quit begins at Scotty’s Stage
7:30 p.m. — Pumpkin ribbon delivery begins
8 p.m. — Beer garden ticket sales end
8:15 p.m. — Last call for drinks in the beer tent
8:30 p.m. — Music ends
8:45 p.m. — Pumpkins must be picked up by those who wish to bring them home
9 p.m. — Event ends and clean-up starts