The Thunder in the Valley Festival is returning to Easthampton for its ninth iteration, and, once again, preparations for the event are looking to one up itself from the year prior.
The concert and fireworks event on June 29 at Molitoris Orchard located at 95 Park Hill Rd. in Easthampton celebrates the Fourth of July holiday while also focusing on fundraising for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Advance tickets cost $20 while tickets purchased at the gate will cost $25, and VIP admission is $70 and can be purchased in advance at thunderinthevalleyma.com.
The festival is organized by 501c3 nonprofit organization Unbroken Wings which has focused on the goal of bringing awareness and fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Baystate Children’s Hospital. The event is an approved fundraising event of the Children’s Miracle Network.
One of Unbroken Wings organizers Eric Murray told Reminder Publishing the event has become something the community looks forward to for its jam-packed holiday fun but most importantly to raise money for children in need.
“It started out as just a regular motorcycle rally and now it’s turned into a huge festival,” Murray said. “We are always trying to grow the event as big as possible and get as many people there to raise as much money as possible for the hospital.”
The day of music starts at 11:30 a.m. and concerts will go on all afternoon and night leading up to the fireworks show. Kicking off performances will be Shovelhead from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This will be followed by Scotty Austin from 1-3 p.m., and Bennie and The Jets from 3:30-5 p.m.
Artist Alexis Anamisis is also expected to perform but her performance time is to be determined.
Leading off the evening of performances will be local favorite Trailer Trash from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The main event of the night performance wise will come from That Arena Rock Show who will perform from 8-9:30 p.m. and lead into the fireworks show.
“That Arena Rock show headlining this has never played in this area at all. They are usually play on the other side of the United States,” Murray said. “They are an incredible cover band. They don’t just go up there and play the music, they act it out. It’s more of a show than just playing music.”
The day will once again feature the Children’s Miracle Ride through the Valley leading into the start of the festival. Bikers will gather and be escorted for their ride starting at Monty’s Motorsports located at 1 Arch Rd. in Westfield. Registration opens at 10 a.m. and kick stands go up for the ride to the festival at noon. Tickets for the ride will cost $20 per person and includes admission to the Thunder in the Valley festival.
A new addition to this year’s celebrations and fundraiser will be the first Children’s Miracle Jeep Run organized by Unbroken Wings and the city of Chicopee. Jeep owners will meet at Metro Jeep at 650C Memorial Dr. in Chicopee. Registration opens at 10 a.m. and the ride will begin at noon. Tickets for the ride are $20 and includes admission to the Thunder in the Valley.
Both events can have tickets purchased at thunderinthevalleyma.com.
“The Jeep community is a very tight knit community and they’re very in to trying to help out causes as well so I got into contact with Wicked Jeeps of New England, and they got on board with it. Metro Jeeps got on board with it, and we just ran from there,” Murray said.
Murray said they expect approximately 300-500 Jeeps to be involved in the ride for a good cause.
“The Hampden Country Sheriff’s Department is going to lead the entire event,” Murray added.
The festival will have vendors of all types, food trucks, beer and wine available to go along with the day of performances. Open to the public, any money raised goes to charity and the event is rain or shine. Lawn chairs, blankets and small, beach-type umbrellas are welcome, but no easy ups are allowed.
Limited free parking will be available, but carpooling from the center of Easthampton is recommend to combat parking woes. There will be an ATM on site. The event will also feature many raffle prizes and tickets will be available at the gate or at the raffle tent located inside the festival.
With another year of the festival set to kick off, Murray said it never gets old for organizers in putting on the fundraiser for children in need.
“It’s sad that any child has to be hospitalized for any long period of time, and there’s only so much a hospital can do. So, we’re grateful that we’re able to put this on to try and make the child’s life a little easier while they’re in the hospital,” Murray said.
