Holcombe leading Madison Street Festival

Sharon Holcombe is president of the 2015 Madison Street Festival. Originally, she volunteered on festival day to help her husband Tim Holcombe, shown with her in this photo. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Sharon Holcombe is serving as president of the 2015 Madison Street Festival (MSF).

The festival is the city’s “largest event and unites the community as they enjoy arts and culture, interactive exhibits, car show, a wonderful children’s area and great food,” Holcombe said. “The family-oriented festival is admission free and held in beautiful historic Madison.”

“We’re so happy business owners and residents support MSF and allow us to showcase the most beautiful and unique part of our city,” Holcombe said.

She got involved at the festival with husband Tim, who volunteered many years to help vendors. In 2013, past president Debbie Overcash recruited her to work with publicity.

Holcombe’s presidential duties include working closely with all committee chairmen on all event aspects. “Thankfully, most MSF committee members have volunteered many years and need very little guidance. We’ve added committee members in (recent) years that are bringing fresh ideas,” Holcombe said.

MSF committee members are “the most talented, hard-working people I’ve ever worked with,” Holcombe said.

New for 2015, the Railway Cafe on Church Street will give a second seating area for concessions. A second shuttle stop will be located at the corner of Church and Arnett streets, allowing visitors to enter at the north side closer to Artist Cove, Artist Alley and Car Show.

Festival proceeds are reinvested in the community by grants to Madison-based, nonprofit groups that provide educational opportunities. In 2014, MSF set a record with more than $6,500 in grants to 17 groups and a $1,000 scholarship to a student at both Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools.

Holcombe’s major reward is “maintaining MSF traditions so intertwined with the DNA of the City of Madison. So far, living up to past presidents’ achievements is my major challenge.”

A graduate of the University of Montevallo, Holcombe teaches seventh-grade science at Monrovia Middle School.

Her husband Tim works as Sundrop Bottling Company marketing manager and serves as District 1 City Councilman. Their son Daniel of Atlanta works for Zurich Insurance. Daughter Rosalie of Madison works for Keller Williams.