Trail Buskers Event Takes Place Tonight (Thursday, Aug. 11)

Tonight the town will host a celebration that incorporates the popularity of the Farmington River Trail, local musicians and even a little history.

 A special Trail Buskers event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday Aug. 11, featuring the Farmington Valley Band as well as other local musicians along the trail.

Director Brian Wilson said he was inspired by a busking event, which usually involves musicians playing for change, in New Hampshire. He also thought it would be great to host an event along the trail, especially since a two-mile section from Route 179 to Route 44 was recently completed.

“I kind of melded those two ideas together and thought it would be neat to do something along the trail,” Wilson said.

From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Farmington Valley Band will be featured at Bicentennial Park the site near the town’s water pollution control facility on of the trail.

Eric Sondergeld, of Canton, secretary and euphonium player for the Farmington Valley Band, said the show is significant to the band, which goes back to 1944 and has much older roots.

In the early days of the band, it played at a spot along the river, near Bicentennial Park, Sondergeld said.

“We’re very excited to return to the river and this very nice setting,” he said.

People can park at the public works facility on Old River Road Wilson said.

At benches and other spots along the trail, at least half a dozen other musicians will be featured, especially between 5 and 7 p.m. Wilson said.

Near Canton Springs Road, for example, the Freedenberg Trio will entertain with violin, viola and cello.

At other points nearby, other musicians will entertain, including fiddle player Arlene DeMaris of Avon and bilingual singer-songwriter Tanya Romero.