TOPSFIELD — The Topsfield Rail Trail will get a semiformal launch Sunday, but don't expect many people to wear full suits or beautiful dresses. Instead, painted faces and shorts are more likely to be the uniform of the day.
That's because the balloon- and banner-heavy ceremony marking the start of the stone dust trail will take place shortly before a Masconomet Bike-A-Thon. It's a natural fit: Many of the trail users are expected to be bicyclists.
Attire for the Bike-A-Thon is expected to be much more casual. Registration for the event, which raises money for the A Better Chance program at Masconomet, will be held at 12:30 p.m. The Bike-A-Thon itself is slated to launch at 1 p.m. from Proctor School.
The new Rail Trail runs through the Proctor School grounds.
Rail Trail Committee Chairman Joe Geller said last week the trail is essentially complete from Washington Street to Summer Street. The only exception is around the new Topsfield Station business building, where work is expected to be finished this summer. A formal dedication ceremony would be planned then.
Sunday's opening ceremony will begin shortly before the Bike-A-Thon. The beginning of both Bike-A-Thon routes has been changed to use a stretch of the Topsfield Rail Trail, said Paula Burke, an organizer.
"I'm affectionately calling it a 'great opening' instead of a 'grand opening,'" she said.
The committee is already evaluating what needs to be done farther down the trail, which is to cross Route 1 and the Ipswich River.
Before and after the ABC Masconomet ride, families can enjoy a carnival atmosphere. Activities will include face-painting, a bounce house, popcorn, slush and a planned "bike first-aid" station, Doreen Chapman of ABC said. Most of those activities will begin before 12:30 p.m.
For more information, see abc masconomet.org and topsfield trail.org.
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