Madison Street Festival: Where everybody knows your name

Steering committee members for the Madison Street Festival come from all walks of life and devote countless hours for a fun, safe gathering. (Photo by Sarah Brewer, Click Photo Design)

MADISON – Live music in all flavors. Lip-smacking food and fine art. One-of-a-kind collectibles, make-and-take souvenirs, flashy cars and marching bands. These elements will combine on October 3 for 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,” MSF President Sharon Holcombe said. “The family-oriented festival is admission free and held in beautiful historic Madison.”

Holcombe’s major reward is “maintaining MSF traditions so intertwined with the DNA of the City of Madison.”

New for 2015, the Railway Cafe on Church Street will give a second seating area for concessions. A second shuttle stop at Church and Arnett streets will allow visitors to enter at the north side, close to Artist Cove arts and crafts, Artist Alley and Car Show.

In Artist Cove, chairperson Brenda Parker expects about 60 arts and crafts vendors to offer their handmade merchandise.

“We try really hard to keep our arts and crafts handcrafted. It seems to be getting harder each year to make sure items are just that — made by hand,” Parker said. “I’m really excited about the second shuttle stop, just across the street from arts and crafts.”

One artisan, Shawn Doughty creates stunning maps with “The Who, What and Where Art.” Dougthy’s state, regional and city maps feature landmarks, events and heritage. Doughty’s Alabama map includes the Saturn 5 rocket, W.C. Handy, Crimson Tide football, cotton boll and state bird and flower.

Doughty’s artwork is sold at 40-plus locations throughout the Southeast and Midwest, including Huntsville Museum of Art and Alabama Governor’s Mansion. (www.whowhatwhereart.com)

Juried art in Artist Alley showcases the Tennessee Valley’s superior artists. Chairperson Kathy Lewis will welcome sculptures, glass artisans, jewelry designers and novelty specialists.

Madison artist Elia Peters with Saucy Cats starts with illustrations on her Macintosh computer. Original black-and-white originals are output on archival-grade paper and mats.

Peters then sometimes hand-paints with watercolors for signed originals. “I even have print photographs of cats and original caricatures of ‘furballs,'” Peters said. (Saucycats.com)

In the Children’s Area next door to North Alabama Gas Company, youngsters can create make-and-take crafts with volunteers from Burritt on the Mountain, Lowe’s, Huntsville Botanical Garden and others, chairperson Karen Morris said.

Madison police officers will offer fingerprinting. Paul Mitchell the School Huntsville students will paint faces and nails, along with braiding and color-spraying hair. Kids can ride ponies, pet barnyard animals and play in inflatables.

Entertainment chairs Alicia Roberts and Faye Wishik promise finger-snapping melodies from live entertainers. The Main Stage will feature rock singer/songwriter Ben Luthy, Chickenbone Reunion Band’s down-and-dirty blues, JED Eye’s rock’n’roll, The Groove’s dance/pop favorites and Just Gracy.

Gazebo Stage entertainers include singer/songwriter Lee Marshall, Dr. Reginald Jackson & Friends’ smooth jazz, Dorothy Cole’s shimmies with her Tina Turner Revue, Beasley Brothers’ originals/chartoppers and Indie pop-folk duo Arrow and Olive.

Car Show Chairman Ted Whitney is excited about 100-plus entries, hosted by Vets with Vettes and Corvette Owners car clubs. The exposition features quality cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Trophies will spotlight “Hometown Favorite,” “Kids’ Pick” and favorites of the mayor, police and fire chiefs and MSF Committee. The show raises funds for charities, like Heroes Week.

What’s an outdoor festival without carnival food? Chairperson Gayle Milam promises cool treats like Dippin Dots, Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream, Big Kahuna and Ice Works shaved ice. Greek Flame Food of Tampa, Florida will return with gyros, Greek delicacies and kabobs.

Earth and Stone and the Rainbow Homemakers Club will serve pizza. Little Red Lunchbox will sell carnival treats. O Taste N See BBQ will smoke ribs, brisket, pork, chicken and sausage.

Madison County Cattleman’s Association will grill steak sandwiches. Tennessee Kettle Corn, Piper and Leaf Tea and Rollin Lobstah Food Truck also will attend.

MSF opens at 9 a.m. with the parade and closes at 4 p.m. For more information, visit madisonstreetfestival.org.