Thunder in the Valley returns with fireworks, music festival

As with previous Thunder in the Valley festivals, this year’s event will feature fireworks.
Photo credit: Thunder in the Valley

EASTHAMPTON — In celebration of the Fourth of July and the 250th anniversary of America, the Thunder in the Valley concert and fireworks festival returns to Easthampton to provide the community with its biggest celebration yet.

The concert and fireworks event will take place on Saturday, June 27, at Molitoris Orchard on 95 Park Hill Road in Easthampton.

The festivities celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Baystate Children’s Hospital.

Advance tickets cost $20, while tickets purchased at the gate will cost $25. Children ages 6-15 can get tickets for $10, and children 5 and under get in for free. For tickets and more information on this year’s event, visit thunderinthevalleyma.com.

The festival is organized by nonprofit organization Unbroken Wings, whose work is committed to supporting children who have experienced physical or emotional trauma by providing comprehensive programs that nurture the mind, body and spirit of children recovering from trauma. The annual fireworks celebration has been a consistent supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Baystate Children’s Hospital over the last five years.

Unbroken Wings Board Director Mike Perrier told Reminder Publishing that the event has become a beloved community celebration for the Fourth each year, and the jam-packed day is filled with great vibes, great music and is capped off with a great fireworks show.

“It’s definitely the fireworks, people love fireworks, that’s the big draw, but we try to make it so much more, and each year we’ve gotten bigger and bigger artists to come in who don’t usually play this area,” said Perrier. “We just have a great community around us, granted, a lot of people come from outside this area to see the show. I would say this is more like an old-fashioned festival. It has that feel to it. People are all friendly, they take care of the grounds, they don’t trash nothing, it’s all respectful people. It’s cool and has a great atmosphere.”

The festival and music kick off at noon, and concerts run all through the afternoon and night. The celebration eventually culminates in the fireworks show. Before the festival kicks off, the Children’s Miracle Kruze, which starts at Metro Jeep in Chicopee, will lead Jeep-driving attendees to Molitoris Orchard right in time for the start of the festivities. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the Jeep rides begin by noon. Tickets for the ride will cost $20 per person and include admission to the Thunder in the Valley. According to Perrier, they can be purchased on the event’s website.

“It’s all Jeep people who love their Jeeps. We have the Sheriff’s Department that comes and helps us, and it’s a nonstop right through lights and intersections from Metro in Chicopee all the way to Thunder in the Valley,” Perrier added.

Starting things off on the event grounds at noon is Change-Up, which performs pop, rock and dance music. At 2:30 p.m. Traveler, a Chris Stapleton tribute group, alongside Bluebird, a Miranda Lambert tribute singer, will perform together on stage, followed by Shania Twin, a Shania Twain tribute band at 5:30 p.m.

Closing the night of performances will be Bruce in the U.S.A., the world’s No. 1 Bruce Springsteen tribute band. Perrier said the musical acts have evolved over the years, and organizers are always looking to give audience members a great bang for their buck.

“We wanted to make sure people are getting more than their money’s worth. Each of these artists, if you go to see elsewhere, they’re like $65 a ticket to go see each one separately, so we’re trying to keep it at one price level as cheap as we can and still be able to pay for everything, and still have those donations,” he added.

The festival will have vendors of all types, including food trucks, beer and wine available to go along with the event. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed, but no easy-ups or tents of any kind are permitted.

Limited free parking is available, but carpooling from the center of Easthampton is recommended to combat parking woes. There will be an ATM on site, and the event will also feature many raffle prizes.

With another action-packed celebration set for June 27, Perrier said the fireworks are poised to be better than ever, and he added that it will be great to see people and their families enjoying the celebration of America.

“We want to thank the community, the people that volunteer and help, and the people that support it because it’s been a good cause and it keeps us going. Gives us old people something to be proud of,” Perrier said.