The 3rd Friday
celebration gets underway at 5 p.m. and as the sun goes down, a magnificent
balloon glow will light up downtown Decatur. Hot air balloons will be located
in the green space on Lee Street (in front of the Morgan County Jail), weather
permitting, and festival goers are invited to mingle with the pilots and to
start making plans for the Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic set for May
24-25, 2014.
Throughout the evening, Bank
Street and 2nd Avenue will be filled with a variety of vintage
beauties and some of the area’s best musicians will keep festival goers on
their feet dancing. Slated to perform on the Main Stage, located at the corner
of Bank Street and Church Street from 6 to 8 p.m., is The Wheelers. The Decatur
Youth Symphony will also perform on Bank Street followed by a concert in front
of the Old State Bank. Additional entertainers include Jason Speegle (beside
Tallulah’s), the Morgan County Dulcimer Association (next to the Neighborhood
Christian Center), Bimini Road Band (between The Cupboard and Tammy Eddy), JC
Carter (beside Gyro Uno and Antique Basket), Barry Hall (at Casa Grande Park),
Deborah Davenport (next to the Alabama Center for the Arts), and Kim Stone and
Friends (beside Downtown Dawgs). From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Jonathan Laird is the
featured entertainment at Simp McGhee’s, the Back Alley Bistro will host Tim Tucker
beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Josh Allison will perform on the patio at The Brick.
There will be plenty of hands-on
fun for children throughout the evening including a Kids Zone on Second Avenue
hosted by Bank Independent and the Carnegie Visual Arts Center will offer
activities and a street art contest on Bank Street.
Jacque Reeves from the Huntsville
Ghost Walk will offer a sneek peek of the new Decatur Ghost Walk, and beginning
at 6:30 p.m., there will be a fashion show featuring Beautiful Edge-A Paul
Mitchell Salon and Goody 2 Shoes at Casa Grande Park. Heirloom tomato plants
from 1818 Farms will be available to puchase at The Cupboard and the Old State
Bank will remain open until 7 p.m.
The downtown area boasts an
eclectic mix of restaurants and a variety of locally owned boutiques line the
streets offering plenty of dining and shopping opportunities for festivalgoers.
Casa Grande Park on 2nd Avenue will be filled with craft
vendors selling handmade items and artists and artesian goods vendors will be
set up along Bank Street selling their works of art. Store specials, giveaways,
and discounts will be offered at selected merchants including free smoothie and
tanning lotion samples at Decatur Athletic Club, a Scout Trunk Show at The
Paper Chase and a 25th anniversary celebration at Tammy Eddy
Antiques.
MCATS will provide transportation
between Bank Street and Second Avenue for $1 per person, per ride. Pickup
locations are at the Alabama Center for the Arts parking lot on Second Avenue
and beside Tammy Eddy Antiques and Interiors on Bank Street.
Participating streets in 3rd
Fridays include 2nd Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and
Johnston streets. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. 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. Diamond Sponsor is Decatur Downtown Redevelopment
Authority. Gold Sponsors include Bank Independent, BP, Decatur/Morgan County
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce,
Progress Bank, and Morgan County Commission. Silver Sponsors are Nucor Steel
and 3M. Bronze Sponsors are Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, Beautiful
Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, and King Insurance Agency.
For more information, call Ashley
Ashwander at 256.355.8993 or visit 3rd Friday’s Facebook page for
the latest information.
No comments:
Post a Comment