IN THE STREET to Showcase Frederick’s Community Spirit
Come celebrate Frederick’s community spirit at this year’s 23rd annual IN THE STREET festival. The day-long event, filled with fun for the entire family, will be held on Saturday, October 1st on Market Street in Frederick. From the parade to blocks full of activities by local organizations to live entertainment by great local bands, you’ll find out exactly why Frederick is such a great place to live, work and play!
The day gets rolling at 9:15 a.m. with the Steeplechasers Mile foot race down Market Street. With divisions for men, women and children, you can cheer on your favorite local runner. The IN THE STREET parade begins at 11 a.m. The theme of this year’s parade is A Great American Main Street, a tribute to downtown Frederick’s recent Great American Main Street award. With floats, marching bands, horseback riders, and even a robot, you’ll see the best Frederick has to offer.
The area’s biggest and best block party starts at noon and includes five stages of music, eight blocks of activities, and food galore. Charity and Celebrate Frederick blocks feature ways to get involved with our local charities and non-profit groups. Paint a pumpkin, play putt putt golf or try your hand at the fishing pond in Charity Block while raising money for a good cause at the same time. You can also help the newest members of our community - the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. Representatives from eight of Frederick’s finest hair salons and day spas are joining forces for “Kuts for Katrina”. They will offer hair, nail and massage services outside The Temple - A Paul Mitchell Salon at 22 W. Church Street with all of the proceeds going to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund.
Also new this year, you can help keep downtown looking great, and help out a local service organization, just by recycling your empty soda can, or plastic water bottle. The Service Learning Advisory Board, run by a group of Frederick County high school students, will have two recycling stations at the event - at the corner of Church and Market Streets, and the corner of Fourth and Market Streets.
Sports Block will offer new amusements, including a bungee run, and a 24-foot high rock-climbing wall. You’ll also find amusements in Kids Block, as well as crafts, face painting, and even the robot R2D2 from the movie “Star Wars”. And, don’t miss martial arts demonstrations in Health and Fitness Block, and the antique fire trucks and Coast Guard boat in Public Safety Block.
Local bands will take center stage at this year’s celebration. From classic rock with Sticktime, soft rock with The Freddie Long Band, country with The Knight Brothers, and swing with the Star Spangled Big Band, there’s a local group that’s sure to appeal to your musical taste. Plus, don’t miss an incredible swing dance demonstration by the Lindy Hoppers at the Second Street stage, and great local dance troupes on the dance floors in Art and International Blocks.
At 5:30 p.m. the party moves from the street to the top of the Carroll Creek parking deck. This year’s ON THE DECK party features local band “The Reagan Years”, playing your favorites from the ‘80’s. A light bar and refreshments will be available. Tickets are $10, and can be purchased at the door (21 years of age and older.)
For a full IN THE STREET schedule, including stage and dance floor schedules, as well as restaurant locations, visit our website, www.inthestreet.info <http://www.inthestreet.info>.
A very special First Saturday Gallery Walk will also be held ‘Into the Night’. Market Street will remain closed to traffic between Patrick and Second Streets from 5 to 8 p.m. for the event. For a complete schedule of First Saturday activities, visit www.downtownfrederick.org <http://www.downtownfrederick.org>.
This event is made possible by the generous support of our corporate community. Our 2005 sponsors are: Gold - Bechtel Foundation, Cellular One, Chase Credit Card Services, Drees Homes, Sandy Spring Bank and Weis Markets; Silver - Adelphia, COMSTAR Federal Credit Union, Farmers and Mechanics Bank, The Frederick News Post and Spectrum Federal Credit Union; Bronze - BB&T, CitiMortgage, and the Frederick Arts Council.