Annual Fest of All opens June 24

Date: 6/16/2010

June 16, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE -- A new date, a karaoke contest for children and an autograph session with Red Sox Hall of Famer Bernie Carbo are just a few of the attractions of the fifth annual Fest of All.

Robert Liswell and other Fest of All committee members joined Mayor Michael Bissonnette on Thursday at Szot Park to officially announce the four-day food and music festival that will be presented June 24 through 27 at the park.

Liswell said between 68,000 and 72,000 people attended last year's Fest of All and the committee hoped to attract even more people by moving the event to one week before the Fourth of July weekend.

"We're hoping to match that or do better, " he said.

He said the committee had "doubled the size" of the festival and started booking bands in January.

The Fest of All has maintained its free admission, he added. The event has attracted 24 food vendors this year and there will be a beer and wine garden.

The schedule of events includes:

June 24 from 4 to 9 p.m.

Performances by Orange Crush from 4 to 6 p.m. and Derek and the Funbags from 6 to 9 p.m.; Senior Legion baseball game at 7:30 p.m.

June 25 from 4 to 9 p.m.

Softball game between the Police and Fire Departments at 6 p.m.; Bax and O'Brien from Rock 102 at 7 p.m.; performances from Moose and the High Tops from 4 to 6 p.m. and B-Street Band from 6 to 9 p.m.

June 26 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Road race and walk with registration at 9 a.m. and start at 10 a.m.; three on three kids soccer tournaments starting at 7:30 a.m.; Family Wireless Cell Phone Throwing Contest at 11 a.m.; Junior karaoke finals at 1 p.m.; Bernie Carbo autograph session at 4 p.m.; fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; performances by Turning Fifty from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Accidental Groove from 2 to 5 p.m. and Brass Attack from 6 to 9 p.m.

June 27, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Poker Run with registration at 8:30 a.m. and start at 11 a.m.; Chicopee Rotary Club car show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; vintage baseball game at noon; and performances by Soul Sensations Band from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thick as Thieves from 1 to 2 p.m. the Lynyard Skynyrrd Experience and Nicklback from 2 to 5 p.m. and Aquanett from 5 to 8 p.m.

For more information, log onto www.festofall.com.