BERLIN – Berlin is adding two new events and expanding another this summer with a 10th Anniversary Celebration of the filming of “Runaway Bride” and a Blues and Jazz festival.
The Berlin Chamber of Commerce will present four events this summer, ending with the marquee event celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the filming of “Runaway Bride,” on Aug. 2.
Berlin Chamber of Commerce President Joel Todd appeared in front of the Berlin Mayor and Council to ask permission to close Main St. to traffic for four events this summer.
“We’re expecting between 500 and 1,000 for the “Runaway Bride” anniversary,” Todd told the council Monday night.
“What we would like to do is the same thing we did when we had the premiere,” said anniversary organizer Patricia Fisher of Town Center Antiques. “We don’t know if that’s going to be feasible or not because we don’t have a theater to see the film.”
Details on the celebration are still being planned. “We’re really just brainstorming ideas,” Fisher said.
The Blues and Jazz Bash will take over Main St. on May 3 for the first time. This is planned as a compliment to the fall bluegrass festival, the Fiddler’s Convention.
Organizers expect 500 audience members to watch performances at the Blues and Jazz Bash’s two stages, one at the intersection of Jefferson St. and Main St., and the second at the intersection of Pitts St. and Main St.
The second year of Berlin’s Cruisin’ event for classic car owners will be even bigger, said Todd. Organizers would like to double the attendance at the classic car event and need more parking. They plan for 150 classic vehicles in the parking lot, and 100 on the street. The Cruisin’ event will be held May 17, in conjunction with the classic car festival in Ocean City.
The chamber would like to close Main St. for the event this year. The 500 Cruisers expected could then angle park on Main St. as well as park in the parking lot. That would spread the event through town, Todd said, and not just at one end.
“We couldn’t do that last year,” Todd said.
The popular and long-running Village Fair will be back this year on June 14. Organizers expect the event to attract 1,000 people.
Berlin police have already signed off on the plans.
“We have no concern with the request for the street closings,” said Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing.
The council unanimously approved the Main St. closings.