72° CLOUDY, Street party back for W.C. Handy Festival
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 11:58 p.m.
In the mid 1990s, street parties in downtown Florence were a staple of the W.C. Handy Music Festival.
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See the 2008 W.C. Handy Music Festival schedule at www.TimesDaily.com/entertainment.
They all but disappeared, but a new downtown restaurant and a local music promoter want to change that.
"We just wanted to bring it back to downtown, mainly," said Mike Alonso, owner of On The Rocks, a restaurant that occupies the former location of Nolen Cole Gallery.
"I was 13 probably the last time I came to one downtown," Alonso said. "I remember how much fun it was, even as a kid."
Two Shoals acts, John Paul White and the Fiddleworms, will open for the national touring act, US, during the street party, which will be on Court Street between Tennessee and Mobile streets today as a part of ongoing Handy festival activities.
Chris Green, who is working with On the Rocks management on the event, said a street party was suggested when the business was getting ready to open.
"It was time for them to come back," Green said. "We pursued it from there."
Green said Gold's Gym has agreed to be the title sponsor for the event. The local Budweiser distributor is also sponsoring the street party.
It's been almost 10 years since the last large street party took place during the W.C. Handy Music Festival.
Legends Steakhouse hosted a street party on Mobile Street Plaza in 2007 during the Handy festival. Before that, the last street party on Mobile Street Plaza was in 1999, according to Florence City Clerk Bob Leyde.
"One thing they found out was that it wasn't as big a money maker as they thought it would be," Leyde said.
Alonso said that so far, the investment for this year's street party has been more time than money.
"It's not a small investment, but I think it will be worth it," Alonso said. "Hopefully, it will be a good turnout."
The city council approved Alonso's request for a special events permit and the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved a special events liquor license for the street party.
Florence police officers, including the department's mounted and bicycle units, will be on duty during the event, as well as private security personnel.
Green said there will be an area for people age 21 and older to consume alcoholic beverages during the event and a separate "family friendly" area for those younger than 21 or adults who do not wish to consume alcohol.
Green said the separate areas are necessary for a variety of reasons, including the prevention of underage drinking.
Deputy Florence Police Chief Tim Shaddix said police discovered that the best way to prevent underage drinking was to segregate the crowd based on the legal drinking age.
Shaddix said organizers could also regulate alcohol consumption by the use of armbands to identify people who were old enough to drink.
"The problem with the armbands is, if they mix in, you really have to watch over them," he said.
He said the organizers of this year's party are utilizing the rules that have proven to be the most successful for large street parties.
After the downtown street parties died off, local businesses held outdoor events in their parking lots.
The Texas Road House in Florence hosted a street party Tuesday, while Outback Steakhouse in Sheffield has a street party beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday.
"In the past, the street parties have gone really well," Shaddix said. "I anticipate this one will go well. I hope there's a big crowd. Personally, I think all of us are in support of it."
Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.
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Comments
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July 23, 2008 2:54:07 pm
RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20.../NEWS/807230323/1011
When I was growing up here,I don't remember having to pay to go to the party during Handy Fest.Yes, we paid for food and drinks and T-shirts, but that was all. Now they want us to pay to get in to the street party.Just like the trail of tears. the city wants it to end at McFarland park and not in Waterloo where the trail ACTUALLY ended in Alabama. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
July 23, 2008 3:19:03 pm
You are so right. I much prefer the Handy Festival of years ago when one could actually attend events without having to fork out cover charges.
July 23, 2008 3:38:02 pm
Ahh the all mighty dollar. We must remember to 2nd golden rule. The ones with the gold makes the rules!!!!
July 23, 2008 7:19:07 pm
If it improves our ability to attract really good talent, I am happy to pay. Music festivals in bigger cities all charge hefty admission.
If the people of this city would stop *****ing about how much everything costs, we would have so much more to offer. No wonder we can't attract a decent grocery store and only chain restaurants seem to make it here.
July 23, 2008 9:31:20 pm
What they need is a REAL blues act. Not some band hung up on 80's metal music. Get a real bonified top name blues band. Court Street (On The Rocks) was OK but not alot of people. Years ago those street parties would last until late with hundreds of people still around til the end. About half the crowd was gone while the band continued to play.
July 25, 2008 10:12:26 pm
If we would get some BIG NAMES scheduled for the Handy Fest, I wouldn't mind paying. It just seems to me that the city doesn't care about the talent, they just want the MONEY !!!!!!!!!
July 26, 2008 9:19:41 am
I understand that big name acts would require admission fees or cover charges however I don't think that should be a part of the "street party". IThere should not be a charge for a street party. Walk through town, enjoy the music, grab something to eat from the vendors and just enjoy. I realize some feel alcohol should be available and that's fine, just continue to police it as usual.
Bring the big acts to a seperate area and charge the fee to get them there. But the street party is in honor of WC Handy. Our area is rich in history and if we're having a party on the streets of Florence, everyone should be able to attend. We all pay taxes for these streets. There are plenty of local entertainers who would love to play just for the publicity. Let the deep pockets pay to see the big names.
I can afford to pay to see whomever I choose. Many college students, young families, fixed incomes don't have that luxury. I remember the days when the only charge was for those wishing to drink alcohol. That brought everyone to the party, young and old. Those were the good old days.
July 26, 2008 4:46:03 pm
Good point 63. The streets should be open to whomever wishes to take part in the festival. Let the businesses buy permits to sell whatever and also provide the entertainment. The Outback party however is not a family oriented venue. The language and vulgar adult related behavior should be kept indoors because families with children wanting to catch some live festival music were present. I'm not saying not let kids attend, just provide some clean and good entertainment.
July 26, 2008 5:01:37 pm
i dont understand how the handy festival gets the money to operate ... sponsers and grants from the government ??? i dont know.
over the years i have noticed a number of fine fine acts not returning .i wonder why!!! i for one wouldnt go to a festival miles from home and drive around four cities looking for the music ,food ,fun etc. it just dont make sence. what does make more sence to me is to have a central location "downtown florence the home of w.c. handy the father of the blues" would be a good place. have music ,food ,drinks....yea BEER and anything else it takes to draw a crowd ,because it is about the money. like it or not thats the bottom line . if you dont make money you cant pay the acts ,advertise,sound equipment etc,therfore no show.
if i ran the circus i would put EVERYTHING downtown in florence ,up each side street with big acts at each end of court street,with plenty of things for familys to do in between...wilson park would be rocking. make it a three day event.
take the festival OUT of the bars and resturaunts and let them do their thing. thats what they are doing now anyway.three places i know of closed for handy????!!!!! didnt open at all . street parties are part of a festival......duh!!!! have you ever been to one that didnt have street parties???oh yea handy festival i forgot.
its time for some major changes, i would say a complete overhaul is in order.
every year i see the same acts ,except for the "headliners" .i think some of them need to step aside for the sake of keeping the festival going. there are a couple of shows each year that have to cost thousands of dollars to put on. i say take the money for those shows and put it toward a couple of major acts that will draw people from outside the local area.we have a great history in w.c handy and muscle shoals music in general.this year to me was the begining of the end of the festival. something has got to be done.
we dont have drawing power like other festivals. look at city stages ,memphis in may, hot august blues festival,big spring jam.... see how things go for them.it aint rocket science people its a party , a big one .lets keep it going.looks to me like the powers that be are afraid to let their hair down kick up some dust ,i guess thats par for the course around here in the bible belt.... having fun ......YOUR GONNA GO TO HELL FOR IT.
July 28, 2008 9:02:22 am
There were a lot of places we chose not to attend because of the cover charge. Callahans used to have great entertainment for a cheap cover if any at all for the street party and it was a grand time. I have a hard time paying $20 to see a couple of acts that I can see in a few weeks for the $3 cover charge if that makes sense...
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