Downtown Decatur’s 3rd Friday Returns in 2014 Beginning March 21

Downtown Decatur’s monthly block party takes to the streets for the first time in 2014 on Friday, March 21. 3^rd Friday kicks off the 2014 lineup with a St. Patrick’s Day theme, and each month through October, the monthly street party brings a different theme featuring entertainment, live music, a classic car cruise-in, and other family-friendly activities.

The festivities get underway at 5 p.m. and festivalgoers are invited to spend the evening looking at a wide variety of antique cars along 2^nd Avenue while enjoying some of the area’s best musicians. Slated to perform on the Main Stage, located at the corner of Bank Street and Church Street, on March 21^st is Property Line (formerly known as the AB Boys). Throughout the evening, musicians Kim Stone, Gray Cauthen, Tyler Jones, Julian Carter, and Clarence Root will also entertain festivalgoers as they make their way down Bank Street and 2^nd Avenue.

Live music can also be found at the Princess Theatre located on 2^nd Avenue. Presented by Budweiser, the Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series will be held at the Princess Theatre with two shows planned for the evening featuring Deborah Allen and Mike Loudermilk. Tickets are $10 each. A kids’ zone will be set up on 2^nd Avenue and in the parking lot of the Alabama Center for the Arts, the American Red Cross will be sponsoring a blood drive. 

Featuring an eclectic mix of restaurants including the newly opened Gyro Uno on 2^nd Avenue, the downtown area boasts plenty of dining options for festivalgoers to feast on and shopping is plentiful during the 3^rd Friday celebration. Craft vendors selling handmade items will fill Casa Grande Park on 2^nd Avenue and artists and artesian goods vendors will line Bank Street selling their works of art. In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, store specials, giveaways, and discounts will be offered at selected retailers, and many of the merchants will remain open until 8 p.m.

Participating streets in 3^rd Fridays include 2^nd Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston streets. Third Friday’s was first organized in 2009 by merchants as a way to attract locals and visitors to the downtown area. Each month features a different theme. The proposed themes for 2014 include Earth Day celebration and dog parade (April), end of school celebration (May), welcome to summer and a kid’s parade (June), God Bless America and barbeque competition (July), Alabama Restaurant Week featuring local restaurants (August), Fall Festival (September), and Oktoberfest (October). Admission is free.

The Downtown Merchants Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor. Presenting sponsor is Budweiser. Platinum Sponsors are Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Gold Sponsors include Bank Independent, BP, Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, and Morgan County Commission. Silver Sponsors are Nucor Steel and Progress Bank. Bronze Sponsors are Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, and King Insurance Agency.

For more information, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993 or visit 3^rd Friday’s Facebook page for the latest information.