Madison Street Festival in need of hundreds of volunteers

Staff at the Madison Street Festival is requesting more than 100 volunteers to help throughout the day to man all the stations.

“We break up the stations into shifts so everyone that volunteers can also enjoy the festival,” said Misty Merschat festival secretary and volunteer committee chair.

According to Merschat, volunteers will receive a free t-shirt to wear during the event and to keep after.

“I can also provide a letter to any volunteer that wants proof of volunteering at the festival (for scholarships, work, etc),” Merschat said.

The volunteers will need to arrive a few minutes before their shift to check in at the MSF info booth so coordinators will know if there is any gaps they need filled during the event. Those interested in volunteering can email the Madison Street Festival Committee at

Volunteers@madisonstreetfestival.org.

“The Madison Street Festival is a growing event and each year we need even more volunteers that can contribute to the festival’s friendly and fun atmosphere,” she said. “Volunteering at the Madison Street Festival provides volunteers the opportunity to meet new people, learn more about Madison, and have some fun all while giving back to our wonderful community,” Merschat said.

Listed below are the areas in which volunteers are needed:

1. Parking – Direct cars for public parking at city stadium  (7:15 a.m. until 4 p.m.) and vendor parking across Sullivan (6:45 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.); 2-hour shifts – total of 22 people needed

2. Parade – Help lining up parade participants and keeping the parade in motion once started; morning from 7 a.m. until parade is over (parade starts at 8:30 a.m.) – 10 people needed

4. Vendor Assistance and Traffic – Help unload the cars and get the vendor vehicles moved out as quickly as possible – volunteers will be broken out into zones, help direct vendors to their booth location and provide directions to the Vendor Parking area, 6:30 a.m. until parade start – 18 people needed

5. Arts and Crafts Set-up – Help Arts & Crafts vendors setup booths, unload vehicles, etc, morning from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. – eight people needed

6. Children’s Area – Help with various children’s activities throughout the day, all day (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in 2 hour shifts, max six people per shift – 24 people needed

7. Stages – Help get performers set up on one of our three stages and remind them when their end time is near, one person per stage in 3 to 3.5 hour shifts – six people needed

8. Trash and Recycling – Empty trash, pick-up liter, change out trash and recycling bags, refill toilet paper – 10am to 4pm in 2 hour shifts, 2 people per shift – 6 people needed

9. Coke Stations – Need trustworthy adults to man Coke stations, sell product (sodas), handle cash, turn in cash to MSF Treasurer at end of event – all day (8:30am to 4pm) in 3.5 – 4 hour shifts, one person per station (total of three stations running throughout day), six people needed

10. Greeters and Runners – Stationed at entrances and bus stop to direct public to the festival locations, hand out programs, etc. – all day (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in 2 hour shifts, 2 people per shift – eight people needed.