Street festival expands footprint, schedules town hall meeting
On Oct. 6, downtown streets will fill with visitors to the 2013 Madison Street Festival. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – Madison Street Festival’s governing committee is inviting residents to a town hall meeting on Aug. 15.
“We invite all homeowners, churches and businesses to join us, get to know the committee chairmen and put a name with a face,” festival president Debbie Overcash said.
Cornerstone Word of Life Church, 132 Maple Street will host the meeting at 6 p.m. Chairmen will discuss downtown sections that the festival will affect or close. A question-and-answer session will end the meeting.
Festival volunteers will “describe the expanded footprint of the festival and exactly what can be expected from 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5 to clean up after the festival on Oct. 6,” Overcash said.
The festival committee “understands 10,000-plus people are drawn to our historic and lovely downtown the first Saturday of October for this festival. We want to be a good neighbor. Home and business owners are very patient and welcoming to the throngs of people blocking their driveways and in their front yards,” Overcash said.
In January, the committee decided a move toward Front, Church and Maple streets would benefit the festival artists, artisans, craftsmen and vendors. Both Cornerstone and Madison United Methodist churches are permitting use of their properties.
Still in planning, 2013’s tentative layout has food vendors on Main Street’s west end, public parking on Martin Street and Wise Street. Front Street will host information vendors with outstanding entertainers at the BB&T Gazebo Stage. Sponsored by Madison Hospital, the children’s area on Church Street at The Glass Company will offer artsy crafts, pony rides, petting zoo, along with Redstone Federal Credit Union’s Student Art Tent.
Moving north on Church Street, Madison UMC parking will house Alabama Pediatric Dental Associates’ Expo Area. Millar Chiropractic Artist Alley will be staged across the street.
Going east on Maple Street, the Cornerstone property will be the site for arts and crafts vendors, Verizon Entertainment Stage and car and bike show.
To contact a committee chairman, visit madisonstreetfestival.org, click “Contact Us” and click a festival area.
