Streets were being closed in downtown Columbus, and final preparations were being made, as the city pauses tonight and Saturday for the 15th annual Market Street Festival.
And this year”s festival is poised to be the “one on the best ever,” according to Main Street Columbus Inc. Director Amber Brislin.
Riding on the high from winning the national Great American Main Street Award this week, Main Street Columbus plans to take the excitement into the weekend with the help of the community and visitors from near and far.
“The feedback from the community has been great,” Brislin said.
Parts of Main Street were closed this morning, as crews set up the main stage near the corner of Main and Fifth streets and prepare for 20 musical acts, 212 crafts and arts vendors and 33 food vendors, taking up 12 historic blocks of downtown Columbus.
Each year the festival – named for 11 consecutive years as a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 event — draws about 40,000 people.
The two-day downtown party kicks off tonight with Come on Go With Us and Big Sam”s Funky Nation at Market Street After Dark, a ticketed concert on Main Street.
Saturday, the festival will open in true street fair style with food, craft, clothes, art and various other vendors. Traditional ice cream eating and hula-hoop contests, along with jumpers, animals and rides will offer fun for kids of all ages. Saturday night will feature everything from oldies to country, soul to hill country rock as bands including Swing Shift, Gene Robertson and the Echoes, Mac Banks and the Davis”, Juke Joint Gypsies, Paul Brady, Mookie and many more perform, beginning at 10 a.m.
Saturday”s late day lineup on the Main Stage includes Grammy Award winner Nathan Best and friends at 5:15 p.m., Stagolee at 6:30 p.m., Jamie Davis and Soul Gravy at 8:15 p.m. and Blue Mountain at 10 p.m.
This year”s event promises something for everyone and a treat for all the senses. And as she made final preparations this morning for tonight”s event opening, Brislin was buzzing with excitement.
“We are really looking forward to a great 15th annual Market Street,” she exclaimed.
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