It’s time for Madison’s biggest party — Madison Street Festival ready for Oct. 5

The Madison Street Festival opens with a parade at 9 a.m. on Oct. 5. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison’s largest annual event will unfold Oct. 5 with the 33rd Madison Street Festival (MSF).

“We have new, extended and more ‘Saturday-morning friendly’ hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” MSF President Debbie Overcash said.

The fun starts at 9 a.m. with a community parade, which will line up on Skate Park Drive and proceed west on Mill Road, south on Church Street and conclude on Front Street at the gazebo for the opening ceremony. “We welcome Joyce Griffin, the festival’s first chair, as grand marshal,” Overcash said.

The festival’s new “downtown footprint” uses property courtesy of Madison United Methodist Church, Cornerstone Word of Life Church, Larry and Walt Anderson, Dennis Vaughn, The Glass Company and North Alabama Gas District, Overcash said.

(CONTRIBUTED)

The 2013 layout has food vendors and First Commercial Family Cafe on the west end of Main Street. Information booths and BB&T Gazebo Entertainment Stage are on Front Street.

Church Street will have The Brook MSF Information Unit, Redstone Federal Credit Union’s Student Art Tent, Madison Hospital’s Children’s Area, Happy Tails Petting Zoo and North Alabama Gas Pony Rides. Millar Chiropractic Artist Alley will be staged in Dennis Vaughn’s backyard, open from Church Street.

The Alabama Pediatric Dental Expo will be in Madison United Methodist Church’s parking lot on Church Street. Around the corner on Maple Street, 80-plus artisans will show and sell their arts and crafts merchandise. The Verizon Entertainment Stage and Vets with Vettes Car and Bike Show also will be located on Maple Street.

“The MSF committee of 40 volunteers has worked long and hard for a year,” Overcash said. “The volunteers are bringing to Madison a day filled with 26 artists, 83 arts and craftsmen, 18 entertainers, 19 exhibits and demonstrations, 19 food vendors and 72 information booths — a total of 246 entertainment and vendor offerings to our community.”

Three shuttle buses will run continuously from Madison City Schools Stadium starting at 6 a.m. For more information, visit madisonstreetfestival.org.