JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Thousands attend the first Small Town Throwdown in downtown Berlin, last year.

By Paige Mallory Passman, Staff Writer

(Sept. 6, 2018) Berlin will go a little bit country this Saturday during the second annual Small Town Throwdown, from 1-9 p.m.

“It is an event that was brought to our attention last year. The idea [for Small Town Throwdown] was thought up by John Fager, who runs the Atlantic Hotel [in Berlin] and also owns Fager’s Island and Bad Monkey [in Ocean City],” Ivy Wells, director of economic and community development for Berlin, said. “He had recently been to Nashville and thought that it would be a good idea to have a country music festival here in Berlin [so] he worked with the town. The town couldn’t put it on if he hadn’t sponsored the event.”

“I am very excited to ride last year’s great success and ride the cowboy wave,” Fager said. “Berlin is the perfect venue for this event.”

Ruthie and the Wranglers, Artie Hill and the Long Gone Daddy’s, and Patsy’s Honkytonk Torch & Twang are scheduled to perform during the festival.

“Last year was our first year and we really didn’t know what to expect. It was one of our best events of the year so that is why it was brought back again,” Wells said. “It’s great to have someone step up and want to sponsor an event, especially someone who is involved in the town so much itself. A lot of people seem to enjoy it. They had a good time.”

The Small Town Throwdown is beneficial for the Berlin community because of its economic impact, Wells said.

“It is obviously great for local businesses. There are no other vendor’s who are downtown at that time,” Wells said. “We also have a couple of food trucks that will be outside because the restaurants do get full so we need some additional food choices out there.”

Berlin will close South Main Street to traffic on Saturday for the music festival. For more information, visit berlinmainstreet.com.