SOUTH HADLEY — FallsFest is back.
After a one year hiatus, the annual free music and arts extravaganza will return at the end of July. The daylong event will take over South Hadley’s Beachgrounds Park from noon to 10 p.m. on July 29.
New this year, the music festival will feature its first hip-hop act, according to Ira Brezinsky.
“I think everybody in town noticed that FallsFest didn’t happen last year and was wondering what was going on,” said Gillian Woldorf, chairperson of the South Hadley Falls Neighborhood Association.
The association is a community partner for the event.
“Speaking on behalf of the neighborhood association, we are definitely excited that it is back and that MASH (Music and Arts South Hadley) took that time to think about what is going to make this year even better than two years ago,” Woldorf added.
Blues guitarist and sound engineer Art Steele — who was killed in a car accident in January — will be honored.
Brezinsky said Steele did the stages and sound for the three previous FallsFests and was a “huge help.” “We’re putting together a set this year that will be a tribute to him,” he said.
MASH already has a blues band lined up to perform and is in the process of inviting other blues bands in the Valley that knew and worked with Steele.
Before families, community members and visitors to South Hadley will be able to rock out to the musical acts set to perform at FallsFest, they can warm up with their dancing legs at the Pop-Up Party Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m.
MASH will transform the Town Hall’s auditorium into a nightclub for the evening of music and dancing. The Berkshire Hills Music Academy Performance Troupe is scheduled to kickoff the night with The Midlife Crisis Band ending the evening.
Food will be on offer from local restaurants El Guanaco, Log Rolling Catering and Yarde Tavern. A cash bar will offer beer, wine and soft drinks.
The event — MASH’s only ticketed event — is the organization’s annual fundraiser. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and can be purchased online via Paypal at https://www.musicandartssouthhadley.org, as well as locally at Gerry’s Music Shop, Village Eyecare, Odyssey Bookshop, Yarde Tavern, or by emailing contact@shfallsfest.com.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.