Blairstown’s upcoming Fall Festival at Footbridge Park on Saturday, October 15th, is planning to once again feature the excitement of the Bed Races at noon. This will be considered the second annual event that is anchoring its way into the hearts of many of local residents. The Blairstown Enhancement Committee (BEC) sponsors this event and has dubbed it ‘Bedlam in Blairstown.’
There are over a dozen teams already signed up. There are still a limited number of spaces if anyone would like to create a bed race team of five, or a bed parade team of five or more.
Set to take off promptly at 12 PM from the Race Line at Footbridge Park, the Racing beds will be provided by the BEC to ensure the safety and ease to of participants. Teams are encouraged to create a theme and dress in costume of choice to add charm and humor to the event. Hand crafted trophies will be awarded in many intriguing and comical categories including last place the Bed Bug Award. The biggest prize of the day is bragging rights, as well as being able to support BEC in their mission of encouraging Beautification, Economy and Community within the historical Blairstown.
The Bed Races have a unique history in town which some community members date even further back than historical evidence provides. After many longtime residents reached out to the BEC and encouraged them to revive what they believed a lost and loved tradition in town, the BEC decided to help grant this desire.
Some longtime residents remember the bed races taking place in the 70’s during the spring or summer. The Blairstown Historical Preservation Committee, called upon by the BEC to dig a little into the history of the Bed races in Blairstown found that the earliest written accounts of the Bed races were 1983 and 1984. These bed races were held during the Fall at the Towns Harvest Festival and races would take place down Main Street. There seems to be a gap in historical evidence of any other races taking place until 1997 and 1998 at the town’s Harvest Festival.
This year’s Fall Festival is guaranteed to please with increased participation. There will be 50 vendors that representing several nonprofits as well as curated artisans and service-based vendors. There will be a great variety of food available, including German Imbos.
There will be a children’s activity area, as well as pumpkin painting. This BEC event will be held at footbridge park from 11 to 4 PM, Rain or Shine. Attendants can bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit and enjoy the entertainment in the park.
For more information or to get that last minute Bed Race team registered and join in the fun, visit blairstownfestivals.com.
