Market Madness in downtown Springfield this Saturday

The second annual Market Madness Street Fair will be held in downtown Springfield from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20130905/NEWS02/709059879

Print Email The second annual Market Madness Street Fair will be held in downtown Springfield from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. Photo: Photo by Len EmeryPublished September 5, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Market Madness in downtown Springfield this Saturday By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The second annual Market Madness Street Fair this Saturday will mix the traditional elements of the old Moonlight Madness celebration with the thriving Springfield Farmers Market. The street fair, which will be held in downtown Springfield from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, will have a lot for everybody, said Carol Lighthall, executive director of Springfield On The Move. There will be food, a beer tent, 35 vendors at the farmers market, antique cars and tractors, live music, The Simpsons Movie, an ice cream social and barbecue, as well as lots of activities for children. “It certainly has the heritage of Moonlight Madness way back when,” said Lighthall, but the Market Madness events are focused in the downtown. “Harpoon Brewery of Windsor has signed on too,” she said, and will be setting up its tent with Hole in the Hill. Moonlight Madness was an annual late summer celebration held during the evening of the full moon in August, and there were evening activities all over town, drawing thousands of people to various events. People dressed up in costume. The VAULT, the state craft center, is holding an “artist village,” as well as its “artful flea fundraiser.” Main Street will not be closed, she said, while organizers are still trying to decide whether to close Valley Street for more exhibition space. The Springfield Methodist Church is holding a barbecue and 56 Main, a local restaurant, is also having barbecue specials. There will be an antique tractor show and antique car show along Main Street, she said. The Springfield Congregational Church is holding a quilt display and raffle, and is also holding an old-fashioned ice cream social. New this year, she said, is a special children’s area, which will be located next to the old Masonic Temple, with a clown, face painting and giant chalk mural part of the activities. The George Ainley Trio of Perkinsville will be on the lawn near the Masonic Temple, and six different musicians will play in an area in front of the Methodist church. “We’re trying to decide whether to close Valley Street,” she said earlier this week. The Artist Village, a special artists’ sale, will be held in the parking lot between the Bank Block and the Lawrence and Wheeler building. And there will also be the VAULT’s flea market, an annual fundraiser for children’s art programs. Lighthall said the event will be held rain or shine.