Morgan Hill
– Like Dorothy’s house in the
”
Wizard of Oz,
”
the Mushroom Mardi Gras was picked up
– from Community Park – and dropped smack in the middle of a new
world.
This year’s version will be held in downtown Morgan Hill.
Morgan Hill – Like Dorothy’s house in the “Wizard of Oz,” the Mushroom Mardi Gras was picked up – from Community Park – and dropped smack in the middle of a new world.
This year’s version will be held in downtown Morgan Hill.
“It will be great,” event director Sunday Minnich said of the May 28-29 downtown festival. “We think it’s going to work out really well.”
The two-day event needed to move in this its 26th year, because crews have begun getting ready for construction of a new indoor recreation center, which will be built on land the festival has traditionally used for parking and staging.
The festival will be open 10am to 6pm both days.
Monterey Road will be closed to traffic between Main and Dunne avenues at 7pm Friday night, May 27, making access to the downtown a bit difficult, but Minnich said signs will direct drivers to parking areas.
Retail merchants are used to street closures during the Fourth of July’s street dance and parade and September’s Taste of Morgan Hill. Most remain open one or both days and enjoy the added business.
Besides logistical headaches – Minnich said everything is going better than expected – the major change is this year’s festival will be free. Instead of relying on gate fees to underwrite the festival’s scholarship program for graduating high school seniors, organizers appealed to local residents and businesses for sponsorships.
About 30,000 people visited the 2004 festival.
To help ease the disruption of moving the festival downtown and losing gate fees, the City Council voted, 5-0 on May 4, to give organizers $5,000, with the understanding that it is a one-time fee. The money comes from the $11,000 Community Promotions budget that normally is given to Independence Day, Inc., the all-volunteer group that produces two days of Fourth of July events.
The festival had asked for more but Minnich said the $5,000 was enough.
“We are very appreciative of what they did give us,” she said.
Vendor and food service booths are completely sold out.
Still, the lower expected revenue means that, this year, the headliners will be a bit less well-known. And the lack of an Eddie Money or War is the only negative comment Minnich has received.
“The bands we do have are highly talented,” Minnich said. “They are up and coming groups that open for big bands.”
Saturday’s list includes the Bayou Boys at 11am, Nichole Cheri at 1pm and Kelly Thibodeaux and the Etouffee Band at 4:30pm. Sunday The James Theroux Band opens at 11am, local Shane Dwight and his band follow at 1pm, then Henry Clements and the Gumbo Band takes the stage at 3pm. Big Fun with Ry Kihn, finishes the weekend at 4:30pm.
Because this year’s theme is really Mardi Gras – complete with beads, masks, costumed parades through downtown, the entertainment reflects a Bourbon Street feel on the Mardi Gras Stage at West Third Street.
For more information visit: www.mhmushroommardigras.com
