8th Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour prepares for 11 day trek through the Blackstone Valley - Stopping in Franklin

The 8th Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour, founded by songwriting duo Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards, will be coming this year to the Blackstone Valley – performing 11 free community concerts while traversing the state on foot. Since 2010, Mandeville and Richards have organized now over 100 coffeehouse style concerts which showcase local musicians and artists across the state – creating a quality evening program for all ages and an opportunity for talent young and old to be enjoyed by a listening audience. Venues chosen for these community concerts include public libraries, town parks, and historical properties – and this year all events have been funded through local cultural council grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council program.

The concert at Franklin Public Library will feature local performers “Rhythm & Flow”, Matt Zajac, Jackson Gillman with the MA Walking Troupe to follow. This event is sponsored by the Franklin Cultural Council.

The MWT will lead a group hike Meet at the SNETT crossing (approx 372 Lake St, Bellingham, MA. Arriving 9:30-10am ) and walk the SNETT to Chilson Beach (over shoots the library by 1 mile). 3 miles. approx 2 hours. Alternative: Meet at Chilson Beach (598 Beaver Street, Franklin, MA arriving around 1pm ) – 0.25 mile trail along Eastern Shore of the pond. Parking near the beach.0.25 Miles.

Carrying approximately 40-50 lbs of gear and instruments, the Massachusetts Walking Troupe, including veteran members Mark Kilianski (guitar, banjo) and Amy Alvey (fiddle), will be hiking from concert to concert using the Blackstone Valley’s many recreational trails – Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT), Charles River Bikeway, and trails within DCR’s Riverbend Farm to name a few. In addition to evening concerts, the troupe will also be organizing a series of short group hikes wherein the community will be invited to meet up with the Massachusetts Walking Tour as they travel between towns. 

These public hikes will highlight some of the Blackstone Valley’s recreational hiking trails, routes which appear in local author Marjorie Turner Hollman’s book Easy Walks In Massachusetts. All daily routes and "Easy Walks" are available to view and download at www.masswalkingtour.org.

The Eighth Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour will take place between June 15 and June 24, starting in Webster and ending in Blackstone. All concerts will be from 6-8pm and here is a complete listing of events:

Eighth Annual Massachusetts Walking 
Tour arrives in Franklin - June 23

June 15 – Memorial Beach – Webster MA
June 16 – EN Jenckes General Store – Douglas MA
June 17 – River Bend Farm – Uxbridge MA
June 18 – Kiwanis Beach – Upton MA
June 19 – Hopedale Unitarian Parish – Hopedale MA
June 20 – Milford Senior Center – Milford MA
June 21 – Medway Public Library – Medway MA
June 22 – Bellingham Public Library – Bellingham MA
June 23 – Franklin Public Library – Franklin MA
June 24 – Blackstone Boys and Girls Club – Blackstone MA



For more information on these events or for videos of previous year’s Massachusetts Walking Tours, please visit:
www.masswalkingtour.org