ALBEMARLE — The Badin Brews taphouse in downtown Albemarle is set to present its third-annual all-day fall street festival that will take place on Oct. 21 between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Co-presented along with Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation and Young Country Customs LLC, the Downtown Albemarle Street Festival at South First Street will host over 70 vendors, including brewing companies and a variety of dining options.
The festival will celebrate both Oktoberfest and Halloween with sets from local musicians, gem mining, axe throwing, a bounce house, costume contest and more.
Admission and parking for the festival are both free of charge.
Badin Brews opened in the summer of 2021 and has continued to expand the scope of its entertainment outreach in the downtown Albemarle area, culminating in this latest festival.
Albemarle Councilman Dexter Townsend spoke about the taphouse earlier this year at the council’s June 5 meeting: “Badin Brews single-handedly as a business has brought more people to the streets of downtown Albemarle for a festival than any festival that the city of Albemarle ever sponsored could generate traffic for. We’ve put a lot of investment in downtown and we’ve established a social district.”
Any interested vendor applicants can still sign up to attend the festival with a silver ($150), gold ($250) or platinum ($500) scholarship package; applications are available at the Downtown Albemarle Street Festival social media pages. All event sponsorship proceeds will assist in funding police and firefighter presence, permits and licenses, marketing and advertising, as well as music and entertainment.
The street festival isn’t the only fall-themed event coming up in Albemarle — Downtown Trick or Treat is set to take place on Oct. 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A costume contest at 5 p.m. will be open to children ages 10-and-under at Courthouse Square while a trick-or-treat session will be happening at businesses along North Street and West Main Street.
Participating businesses and organizations include the City of Albemarle Fire Department, Albemarle Police Department, CrossFit Albemarle, Albemarle Music Store, Armadillo Axe Throwing, Inc, BoHo Goddess of Albemarle, Divine Real Estate Boutique, Five Points Public House, and GloryBeans CoffeeHouse.
Additionally, Hilltop Seafood Co., Kimbrell’s Furniture, Little Leo’s Boutique, Livi Bug’s Boutique, Melissa Kathleen’s School of Dance, Music On Main of Albemarle, Satin & Lace, and The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop, LLC are also scheduled to participate in Downtown Trick or Treat.
All upcoming holiday-related events in downtown Albemarle can be found at www.albemarledowntown.com.