Inaugural Music Fest Planned In Berlin Tonight

BERLIN -- Berlin will be holding its first-ever May Day Play Day Music Fest (MDPD) this Friday from 5-9 p.m.

“It will be a big night in Berlin,” said Economic Development Director Michael Day.

Centered around the Atlantic Hotel in downtown Berlin, the music fest, which will coincide with the town’s traditional Second Friday Art Stroll, has a long list of performers. Playing at the Main Street Stage in front of the hotel will be the Bryan Russo Band, the Electric Company, Kaleb Brown and Reedo and the Front Porch Offering. Behind the hotel, HoneyShine will be playing at the Berlin Coffee House.

Besides the music, Day highlighted the celebration’s other offerings. There will be face painting and an under-18 years old talent contest, which is being held by the Ocean 98 radio station. Ocean 98 will also run a dunking booth where fest goers will get the chance to make station DJ’s and personalities take a plunge. Additionally, Day mentioned both basketball and corn hole contests for those with a competitive edge.

“Face painting, food, drink, and fun,” was how Day described the festival, which will be sponsored by Barrett Chevrolet, Action Marine, Parties Your Way, the Bank of Ocean City and the Town of Berlin.

Besides being a fun, family event, Day also pointed out that some proceeds from the festival would go to the Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services.

MDPD comes on the heels of last Saturday’s 4th Annual Jazz and Blues Bash, which was held in town and an overwhelming success, according to Day.

“It was fantastic,” he said. “One of the classiest events I’ve ever been to.”

Day was especially happy with crowd sizes, which he called, “very good.”

The high turnout for the event is keeping with a trend of popular celebrations, including last January’s 1st Annual New Year’s Eve Party, which brought in well over 1,000 people, despite winter being a traditionally slow season in Berlin.

In response to the success of Day and his department, Mayor Gee Williams decided Monday to allocate $2,500 for Economic Development to this year’s proposed budget, funding that Day is planning to use to keep events exciting and frequent during the summer.