RUMFORD — A few hundred people are streaming into town to participate in this weekend’s River Valley Homecoming debut at Black Mountain of Maine, organizers said Thursday.
Held by the Rumford nonprofit corporation of the same name, the homecoming is open to anyone who is or was living in Rumford, Mexico, Dixfield, Roxbury, Andover, Bethel, Peru and other area towns, and has fond memories of the times, events and places where they grew up, co-organizer Debbie DeRoche of Roxbury said recently.
The event will be held from 5 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at the Rumford ski area. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and tickets at the gate cost $20 per person, co-organizer Tony Belskis said Thursday afternoon in Peru.
“Over 200 of us out-of-towners are coming home for this event on Saturday,” said Belskis, of band Good Stuff, a father/daughter duo of Lakeland, Fla.
Belskis and several other classic rock and country musicians will be performing.
He said music begins at 5:30 p.m. with Ralph Arsenault’s Acoustic Show inside the entertainment tent. That will be followed from 7:30 to 11 p.m. by the Arnell Jones Band, featuring the Louvat Brothers and Bill Scott.
“Musicians are welcome to jam with the band during the evening,” he said.
Vendors will be selling food, and the Black Mountain Lodge cash bar will be open, and Greg Viger will be doing the photography.
DeRoche described the event as “an evening of music, food, dancing, reminiscing and socializing with friends old and new, classmates, relatives, neighbors and acquaintances.”
Additionally, there will be some unique displays, contests, giveaways and commemoratives.
All net proceeds will be donated to area charitable organizations.
“It’s going to be a good time,” Belskis said. “I’m so excited to see people I haven’t seen in years.”
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