(April 16, 2015) While there is sure to be plenty of reflection and well-earned back patting by Berliners on Saturday, a large portion of the crowd in downtown Berlin will be there for one thing and one thing alone: the planned, massive Cool Berlin Anniversary Party.
This year the task of throwing a party worthy of the word “cool” rests on the shoulders of new Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells.
“From my perspective, being new here, everyone has heard about Berlin being voted ‘America’s Coolest Small Town,’” Wells said. “Now is the time for them to come here and check it out, and I need to make sure that we live up to that standard.”
The party officially begins at 1 p.m. with a parade down Main Street featuring at least 16 youth groups.
The downtown area will be closed to traffic, and open beverage container laws will be suspended for the day as Burley Oak Brewing Co. and the town’s chamber of commerce host a beer garden.
A variety of food vendors and retail booths will also line the historic Berlin Main Street, and the town will provide a moon bounce and inflatables for children.
For Wells, the pressure of throwing a big anniversary party included finding a top-flight band to provide an added draw. A former booking agent with ties to the Baltimore music scene, Wells immediately went after the Kelly Bell Band.
“I wanted to feature one of Maryland’s coolest bands,” Wells said. “I wanted to have them here because they have a big draw from the Baltimore area, and there’s a lot of people who are familiar with the Kelly Bell Band, and I wanted to have the coolest band for the ‘Coolest’ party.”
Bell, and his seven-piece backing band, will perform on the downtown stage beginning at 3 p.m.
Additional planned activities include exhibits by Eastern Shore Karate, a magic show, ice sculpture demonstration and a show and workshop by juggler Cascading Carlos.
“He’s going to juggle some interesting things,” Wells said.
A free shuttle service provided by Ocean Downs will transport guests from Berlin Intermediate School on 309 Franklin Avenue to the downtown area beginning at 12:30 p.m. and running until 6:15 p.m.
“It’s going to be a great, great time, and for anybody who hasn’t seen Kelly Bell, you’re in for a treat,” Wells said.
This year the task of throwing a party worthy of the word “cool” rests on the shoulders of new Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells.
“From my perspective, being new here, everyone has heard about Berlin being voted ‘America’s Coolest Small Town,’” Wells said. “Now is the time for them to come here and check it out, and I need to make sure that we live up to that standard.”
The party officially begins at 1 p.m. with a parade down Main Street featuring at least 16 youth groups.
The downtown area will be closed to traffic, and open beverage container laws will be suspended for the day as Burley Oak Brewing Co. and the town’s chamber of commerce host a beer garden.
A variety of food vendors and retail booths will also line the historic Berlin Main Street, and the town will provide a moon bounce and inflatables for children.
For Wells, the pressure of throwing a big anniversary party included finding a top-flight band to provide an added draw. A former booking agent with ties to the Baltimore music scene, Wells immediately went after the Kelly Bell Band.
“I wanted to feature one of Maryland’s coolest bands,” Wells said. “I wanted to have them here because they have a big draw from the Baltimore area, and there’s a lot of people who are familiar with the Kelly Bell Band, and I wanted to have the coolest band for the ‘Coolest’ party.”
Bell, and his seven-piece backing band, will perform on the downtown stage beginning at 3 p.m.
Additional planned activities include exhibits by Eastern Shore Karate, a magic show, ice sculpture demonstration and a show and workshop by juggler Cascading Carlos.
“He’s going to juggle some interesting things,” Wells said.
A free shuttle service provided by Ocean Downs will transport guests from Berlin Intermediate School on 309 Franklin Avenue to the downtown area beginning at 12:30 p.m. and running until 6:15 p.m.
“It’s going to be a great, great time, and for anybody who hasn’t seen Kelly Bell, you’re in for a treat,” Wells said.