BERLIN – The month-long celebration of “Runaway Bride” continues as the town marks the 20th anniversary of the movie made in Berlin.
Walking tours on Mondays and a free outdoor showing of Runaway Bride set for Aug. 24 will give residents and visitors alike the chance to learn more about the movie starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
“It’s a fun opportunity to celebrate a turning point in the town’s history,” Town Administrator Laura Allen said.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of “Runaway Bride,” shopkeepers have wedding-themed windows and Berlin is hosting free walking tours each Monday in August. The first two tours, held Aug. 5 and Aug. 12, proved significantly more popular than organizers expected.
“We’ve had approximately 50 people on each tour,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director.
To accommodate the crowds, the town will host two tours on each of the remaining Mondays in August, one at 3 p.m. and one at 4 p.m. Wells said that would ensure that there was room on the sidewalk and that everyone on the tour could head guide Mary Raley.
“We’re going to be capping them at 20-25,” Allen said. “That’s going to make it a more intimate experience and it will give everybody an opportunity to stay on the sidewalk.”
During the 45-minute tour, Raley takes participants by places that played prominently in the movie, such as the Atlantic Hotel and what served as Roberts’ house on Baker Street. Tours start at the Berlin Welcome Center on Main Street.
“They’re very successful and people just love them,” Wells said. “Runaway Bride still gets all that love even after 20 years.”
Allen agreed.
“A lot of folks are coming out and really getting into nostalgia around the movie,” she said. “It’s really kind of cool.”
Downtown merchants are paying homage to “Runaway Bride” with related window displays. Some shops have the movie’s soundtrack playing for shoppers while others are showing behind-the-scenes video footage.
The Calvin B. Taylor House Museum also has a display featuring items used during filming as well as photographs taken during the process.
Saturday, Aug. 24 will be “Runaway Bride Day” in Berlin. The movie will be shown on Jefferson Street at 8:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear movie costumes to win prizes sponsored by the Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee. The committee will also be offering a special café table seating option during the movie that will feature a drink and light fare and a slice of wedding cake.
