Helicity Montgomery hosts inaugural Montgomery Street Fair: The Revival | Community Spirit

Helicity Montgomery is excited to announce the 1st annual Montgomery Street Fair: Revival on Saturday, April 21st on Dexter Avenue! The original Montgomery Street Fair took place in 1899 with vendors selling their wares up and down Dexter Avenue. The fair was the first free street fair in the South, and, lasting a week long, is estimated to have seen anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 in attendance. Helicity Montgomery will reawaken Dexter Avenue with this celebratory occasion, of course, adding its own twist to the event. In its revival, the street fair will once again bring the greater community together and become the avenue through which Montgomery can enjoy the many creative talents of our local artisans, vendors, performers, and culinary extraordinaire – all of the things that make our Capital of Dreams truly unique.

The day will be filled with plenty to see and do for everyone! Face painting, craft-making, storytellers, play areas, and much more will be available for children's entertainment. Participants can look forward to tasting some of our local fare including Chris' Hot Dogs, Coolbeans, Country's Barbecue, Capital City Oyster Bar and Grill, and Montgomery Super Suppers. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival will  host a City of Montgomery scavenger hunt that will highlight some of our downtown's hidden gems. There will also be a Chris Hotdog's eating competition for those who are up for the challenge. All of this will be taking place while aerialists, jugglers, dancers, and musicians are dispersed among the crowds. Night activities will focus on live musical performances, which will be announced as we get closer to the event. This will be a day to remember on historic Dexter Avenue. And, attendees will be the first to hear a very, very special announcement regarding next year's street fair!

Free parking is available in the city parking decks located on Washington Avenue, Monroe Street, and at 1 Dexter Plaza. Entrances to the festival can be found at both sides of 1 Court Square as well as the Dexter alley to the Washington Parking Deck.

The Montgomery Street Fair: Revival was born from the community's desire for an arts festival and a Helicity intern's vision of throwing a block party in downtown Montgomery. It is a student led effort put on by Helicity Montgomery's collegiate internship program, which offers students from local universities the unique opportunity of putting on arts-focused community events that aim to make a brighter, more vibrant Montgomery. Through organizing the street fair, our interns have worked hard to create an event that will celebrate  our local talent and help make Montgomery a destination city. They have learned about the nuts  and bolts of putting on a community event of such a large scale. From reaching out to artists and vendors  to coordinating with their universities and planning schedules, our interns have proceeded diligently in realizing this fantastic event.

This community event is presented by Helicity Montgomery's Collegiate Internship Program. It is supported by the City of Montgomery, Auburn University Montgomery, Max Federal Credit Union, Cumulus Broadcasting,  Ralph Scott Motors, Jack Ingram Motors, Prime Montgomery, Boom, Chris' Hot Dogs, Troy Montgomery, Foshee Management, RSVP Magazine, and more!

The Montgomery Street Fair: Revival is PAY WHAT IT IS WORTH starting at $1 per person. Every dollar you give helps us put on more events and programs to enrich Montgomery. If  you are tight on cash, we understand that you may not be able to afford much, but if you like what you see and want to see more donate what you can! The Montgomery Street Fair: Revival will be open to the public,and will take place rain or shine.

For more information, visit www.montgomerystreetfair.com. You can also find out more information by emailing montgomerystreetfair@gmail.com, 'liking' Montgomery Street Fair on Facebook, friending Helicity Montgomery on Facebook, and following Helicity Montgomery on Twitter.

Helicity hopes that you will support your Montgomery in all of its creative forms and efforts. Our city is what we make it, and there is a wealth of talent to be shared and cherished here. As we look forward to a brighter future, we hope you will come out, enjoy, and partake in all that our community has to offer and be proud of.

Program of Events -(subject to change);

• 3:00 p.m. - Doors Open
• 3:30 p.m. - Registration for Hotdog Eating Competition Opens
• 4:00 p.m. - Infinity Circus Performances Begin; Registration for Competition Closes
• 5:00 p.m - Chris' Hot Dog Eating Competition
• 6:00 p.m. - Announcements from City Leadership and Helicity Montgomery
• 6:30 p.m. - Music Performances Begin (Acts TBA)
• 9:00 p.m. - Fair Closes

Don't forget to participate in the Joy to Life walk and Old Alabama Town Book Fair that are happening earlier in the day. Spend your day in downtown Montgomery! It's a great time to be living in our city!

Source:  Helicity Montgomery