There will be plenty to do and a lot to eat all day long in downtown Commerce Saturday.
The Commerce Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) 14th annual City Lights Festival will crank up at 7 a.m. with the farmers’ market and close down after the fireworks demonstration that night.
In between, the festival offers the Star Chase 5K Road Race at 8:00, starting at Willoughby Park (entry fee $20), more than 30 booths (13 of them offering food) at Spencer Park that open at 8 a.m., a kids area, seven different bands starting at 10:15, performances by the Cold Sassy Players and the Commerce School of Dance, and a car show from noon to 5 p.m.
“I am really pleased with the number of booths,” commented Denise McKay, who as chairman of the DDA is in charge of putting the event together. “There is not any duplications in the food area, so you should be able to find something you like.”
Food vendors will offer traditional festival food such as funnel cakes, barbecue and boiled peanuts, but also jerked chicken, frozen pie bars and roasted cinnamon almonds, for example.
And festival goers who opt to get out of the heat for lunch or dinner can find three restaurants — Vaughn’s Wingslingers, Little Italy Pizzeria and Subway — just a few steps away in the downtown.
Craft booths will offer items related to jewelry, candles, cookbooks, pet items, doll clothes, floral arrangements, T-shirts, photography, plants and more, according to McKay.
There will be a kids area featuring inflatables across Pine Street from the Post Office. Included is a water slide to help the kids keep their cool.
At the shady end of Little Street (adjacent to the park) will be displays of exotic birds from The Bird Sanctuary, along with llamas and goats.
Music begins at 10:15 on a stage on Little Street facing the park. In order of their performances, the bands include Southern Praise (10:15), The Solstice Sisters (11:15), the Mat Joiner Band (1:00), Blue Billy Grit (2:20), East Ponce Soul Faction (4:15), Lullwater (6:00) and the Eli Carlan Band (7:30).
The Commerce School of Dance will perform in the Commerce Business Information Center on Pine Street across from the park at 10:00, 10:40, 11:20 and noon. They will be followed by the Cold Sassy Players at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00.
The highlight of the day will be the fireworks display at dusk.
Public rest rooms will be available in the Commerce Business Information Center as well.
Festival sponsors include the Grassroots Art Program, Jackson EMC and the city of Commerce.
