BRATTLEBORO — When times are tough, Brattleboro always comes together.
That's the premise behind a two back-to-back celebrations planned by musicians, area civic organizations, and media in town.
On Friday, May 6, during Gallery Walk, the community will join for “A Brooks House Party: Unity for Community.”
This event will be a benefit for those left homeless by the fire, but it will also serve as a reminder to everyone that downtown Brattleboro is still alive and well.
From 5 to 9 p.m., Elliot Street between Main and the Harmony Lot will be transformed into a block party, with live music from some of your favorite local performers. Sponsors hope to attract visitors to town for Mother's Day shopping, a help to downtown merchants who were affected by the disruption and loss of traffic and commerce as a result of the fire.
Volunteers will be stationed around town to collect money for the United Way.
Hosts for Friday's event include the United Way of Windham County, Building a Better Brattleboro, the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross, and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp.
Saturday's event at the River Garden, spearheaded by the region's musical community and orchestrated by Daniel Kasnitz, a musician, vocalist, composer and recording engineer/producer, “will have at its core 12 hours of music on two stages featuring local talent (Eugene Uman, Lisa McCormick, Clayton Sabine, to name just a few,” according to Cyndi Cain Fitzgerald, a blues singer from Brattleboro who is also involved in the planning.
In addition, the event will feature a silent auction, a food buffet, a beverage concession, massage healing, and children's activities.
Although the concerts are intended to raise money for those affected by the fire, no one will be denied admission for lack of funds, organizers say.
Media sponsors include The Commons, the Brattleboro Reformer, WKVT, WTSA, WYRY, iBrattleboro.com, and Cider Magazine.
To make a donation to benefit victims of the fire, visit www.unitedwaywindham.org.