CONWAY — Festival of the Hills is back this weekend with something for everyone, including a new twist on a fair favorite for children and teens.
“It’s that fun hilltown feel,” said longtime volunteer and treasurer of the Festival of the Hills organization Sue MacDonald. “A lot of organizations step up to help us with it, a lot of companies step up. It takes a village, without a doubt.”
As a Festival of the Hills tradition, adults have faced off for the skillet toss each year, hurling a 6-pound skillet as far as they can before their throws are judged for distance and accuracy. After kids repeatedly asked to participate, the organization decided to create a version of the skillet toss for youngsters this year. On Saturday, Oct. 3, at 3 p.m., kids ages 8 to 17 will throw smaller, lighter skillets on the ballfield near the town center.
Before the kids’ skillet toss, the full weekend of festivities will kick off with a variety show on Friday, Oct. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the United Congregational Church, featuring local musician Janet Ryan and other performers.
Visitors can stop by a bake sale in the town center on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or the book sale offered at the Field Memorial Library from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “The Price of Liberty” exhibit at the Conway Historical Society Museum is on display between 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, and the second annual 1950s-themed Conway Cruise Night will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
To close out Saturday’s events, visitors can take their seats for a turkey dinner at 5 p.m. in the Conway Grammar School, a meal sponsored by the Conway Firemen’s Auxiliary. The meal is $20 per person, and those interested can pick up takeout dinners after 6 p.m. To reserve a meal, call 413-369-4936. Space is limited.
On Sunday, the busiest day of events, runners will take their marks for the Covered Bridge Classic 10K Road Race at 10 a.m. Runners can register for the race between 8:45 and 9:40 a.m. at the Field Memorial Library. The log-splitting contest will start at 11:30 a.m. in the ballfield. Floats will set off for the parade through the center of town at 1 p.m. and the classic skillet toss for adults will return at 2 p.m.
The kids’ skillet toss is not the only activity for youngsters at the festival, with face painting, a hay bale race track, pumpkin bowling, a hill slide and other kid-friendly events in Sunday’s lineup.
In between events on Sunday, visitors can snack on fried dough with maple cream, apple cider, doughnuts, barbecue staples and other bites; pick up fresh fruits and vegetables from local farm booths; shop for crafts at the Makers’ Market; check out the art show in the library; and listen to live music at the ballfield. Festival vendors only take cash.
For Hazel Goleman, chair of the Festival of the Hills organization, the parade is a family tradition, as her mother created “elaborate floats.” Although she looked forward to the parade as a kid, her favorite part now is “seeing everyone come together.”
“The weekend of [Festival of the Hills], there’s so much stress, but there’s also so much excitement, and getting to see all these people in town that I don’t usually see throughout the rest of the year is really great,” Goleman said. “It’s so special to see how happy we can make everyone for the weekend.”
MacDonald called the upcoming weekend “a transitional year for the festival,” as the group behind the event shifts from a nonprofit to a town government body, a necessary move to ensure the town tradition continues.
“It means that there’s going to be a legacy for it,” MacDonald explained.
Parking is available at the South River Meadow off Shelburne Falls Road. Attendees can walk or take the shuttle to the festivities.
For more information, visit festivalofthehills.com.
