10th Annual Eagle Street Beach Party
For Founder Eric Rudd Life Is a Beach
By: Charles Giuliano - Jul 17, 2008
On a hot summer day, 91 degrees, we headed to Eagle Street in downtown North Adams. We found Eric and Barbara Rudd in the process of supervising the dumping of several truck loads of pure white sand. This was their 10th Annual Beach Party.
There was a crew of teenage volunteers on hand to take on the hard task of spreading the sand along the street. Here and there were wading pools for toddlers.
The official opening of the beach party was scheduled for 4 pm and lthe event lasted until 7. But folks arrived early to get a good spot as the street fills up. This has become a much anticipated event and local tradition.
Families come in droves and everyone gets into it. There were some early kids who just couldn't wait for the opening whistle. They were just out there with their buckets and shovels or splashing about. Some of the boys were chasing each other with water pistols.
Walking back and forth with a great grin Eric was tossing buckets and shovels to the kids saying that "These are to share but you can take them home after 7."
By 4:30, when we had to leave for another appointment, the street was rapidly filling up. There was a local rock band providing tunes. Merchants along the street were selling snacks.
It was fun, fun fun, till daddy took the T Bird away. Truly there were Good Vibrations. Surf's Up.