BELFAST, Maine — Life-sized animatronic safari animals to ride, live music to listen to and tons of good food to nosh on must mean that it’s just about time for the annual Belfast Street Party, according to local officials who describe Monday’s event as the “New England Mardi Gras.”
While there likely will not be beads thrown around or nonfamily-friendly activities, the party has drawn thousands of people to High Street in the past three years, according to Belfast City Councilor and inveterate local booster Mike Hurley.
“We have things that are are not just fun to do — they’re fun to watch people do,” he said Tuesday.
Along with the safari rides on the tiger and elephant, those include a climbing wall, a bucking bronco, bungee jumping, a bounce house and a rat race. There also will be a fortune teller, a caricature artist and a photo booth, said Bre Bebb, the new director of Our Town Belfast.
She said that a section of High Street will be closed to car traffic around 4 p.m. Monday and open again at 11 p.m., when the party is done.
A stage in front of the Colonial Theatre will host live music by The Breakers jazz band, Maine Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Don Nickerson and Country Mist, Joanne Parent and Sistalicious.
“Anything to bring the community together in the downtown area — that’s the sort of thing we’re interested in,” Bebb said. “It gives more reasons to come visit Belfast again and again.”
While the rides will cost money, other activities will be free, she said.
The Belfast Street Party will take place on High Street from 4-11 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 6. If there is rain, the event will take place the first following clear evening.
I always liked the Broiler festival, lots of rides, games, and everyone was there, except the folks from away? Maybe that’s why it disappeared, and the bay festival as well. We are now Belfast; Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Etc. Some of us still remember when we were Belfast, ME.
jeez….. there’s always a baby crying in the corner. Or AKA Debbie Downer. I loved the Broiler Festival and it ran out of steam primarily due to how hard it is for dwindling crews of volunteers to put on events like this. By the way: everyone, not just a bigoted group, loved the Broiler Festival. The last year it was there I was waiting to ride the Ferris wheel timing it perfect to be riding while the fireworks were going off. I felt a rain drop but it was a clear night. Looked up and there was two grinning fat faced kids spitting down on us. They looked like they were lovin it. My wife yelled “Cut it out you little bas&^%$#!” .. then we rode the wheel while a huge full moon came up over the bay, a Navy ship was at anchor, and the fireworks blasted off. Perfect. The Street Party has a bit of the flavor of the old Broiler Festival and there’s still plenty of whiners complaining… like this junker 207, but just like the Broiler Festival: thousands of people will still have a good time.
You have a good missus there, Mike! I hope we’ll see you both Monday evening!
I was probably the little bas$ter% spitting on you, LOL!!
Even though I did not relish getting a little spit on me: it was still really funny. Perfect part of a summer night at a fair anywhere in the world.
Just another reason to love this town. Thanks to all the hard work that goes into this event and all the other great events that go on all year long in Belfast. It would be nice to once a year have a ferris wheel– maybe in steamboat park. Maybe the maskers could put on Carousel and have a ride as a fundraiser. I know that a carousel is a merry-go-round and I’d hate to mess up the beautiful lawn down there though but it would be a treat. It’s too bad that so many people can’t just enjoy these times and have to reminisce about back in the day.