By Greg Ellison

(July 8, 2021) After hitting pause in 2020 because of covid-19, the Berlin Bathtub Races return for their 31st edition tomorrow and piggybacks on the Second Friday monthly celebration for an evening of family-friendly activities starting at 5 p.m.

Berlin Chamber of Commerce Deputy Director Steve Frene said the dual events would provide an array of sights and sounds.

“In addition to the colorful bathtubs and teams that will be here for the event, there will also be artists,” he said.

Roads that will be closed from noon to 9 p.m. are Main Street between West and Jefferson streets, along with one block on Broad, Commerce and Pitt streets.

“In that block, we’ll feature several artists that will have works on display and for sale,” he said.

Returning to defend its 2019 bathtub race victory is Deeley Insurance Group, which edged out previous two-time winner H.T. Harrison and Sons that year.

Several new contestants are on board this year, including the Bearded Men’s Society of Ocean City.

“We don’t know what their racer is going to look like,” he said. “Some of the other folks have competed before and might have made some improvements.”

The late Jesse Turner, former proprietor of the Berlin Shoebox, originated the tub races in 1989 to provide a friendly competition between area merchants.

“Originally, it was part of its own event, the Village Fair, and has been on a variety of dates,” he said.

The highly revered bathtub races require participants to think outside the box.

“You can’t go out to Wal-Mart and buy a bathtub,” he said. “There is some technology and engineering that goes into the making of a bathtub racer.”

Bathtub entries run the range from functional to eye-catching.

“You’ll see some that are sort of bicycles that are welded together and there are others that are platforms with wheels,” he said.

Frene said mobile bathtub creations tend to fall into one of two categories.

“Those that are built for show and those that are built to go,” he said.

Also new this year, providing a colorful distraction between tub heats is Nolah Walton, a flow artist, who employs hula-hoops and flags in movement and dance disciplines.

Besides the tub competition, the Second Friday event also provides entertainment for children.

“We’re also working with Worcester Youth & Family Counseling to do a kids zone,” he said.

Frene said craft activities would be staged in front of Worcester Youth & Family Counseling at 124 North Main St.

“They will have crafts for kids and will also bring in a technology group from Salisbury called M4 Reactor,” he said. “They create space for people to discover and explore technology through computer and science-oriented displays.”

Competitors can drop off bathtubs at the Berlin Welcome Center at 14 S. Main St between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Mandatory racer check-in, vehicle inspections and a driver’s meeting begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.

The Bathtub Parade, which runs between the Welcome Center and Commerce Street, starts at 6 p.m. with heats will start at 6:15 p.m.

Race action will take place on Main Street between Commerce and Jefferson streets.

Frene thanked a host of Bathtub Race sponsors, including Bradley Atlantic Insurance Management, Taylor Bank, Berlin Auto Wash, and the Sterling Tavern.

The Bathtub Races and Second Friday, which also coincided in 2019, look to stay linked for the foreseeable future.

“It was a good combination and that’s why we rescheduled it for this year,” he said. “It seems to have found a home on Second Friday now.