The Downtown Sanford StreetFest & Fireworks committee is excited to share the plans for this year’s celebration, which will fill downtown streets on October 12.
Held annually on the second Saturday of October, StreetFest & Fireworks offers a full day of music and performances, a full slate of food trucks and craft vendors, and – of course – fireworks. Festivities kick-off at 10 a.m. The activities, food trucks, and vendors on Carthage and Steele streets will run until 6 p.m. while those on Moore and Wicker streets will last until fireworks.
There will be an official ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. at the Street Stage, located at the intersection of Carthage and Steele streets. This stage will showcase local talent starting at 11:30 a.m. The full lineup is Magetsi, Triple Pointe Dance Academy, Temple Teen Ensemble, Black Belt Leadership Academy, Prime Time Dance, LCHS Show Choir, Dancer’s Workshop, and Danza Azteca Olin.
The Main Stage will be located at the intersection of Wicker and Moore streets this year and will open at 1 p.m. with country and rock band Wade Hill & the Revival. Miss Mini & the Sandman Band will take the stage at 3:30 p.m. with a mix of top 40 and Motown. This year’s headliner is The Ridge Band, known for playing a variety of classic rock, country, and pop hits.
LatinoFest will fill lower Wicker Street with music, crafts, and vendors. The Fiesta Stage at the bottom of Wicker Street will feature live music from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The community Day of the Dead ofrenda will return, allowing attendees to add photos and mementos of lost loved ones. The display will move to the Lee County Library after the festival.
Downtown restaurants and shops will be open on their regular schedules. Food trucks will be set up around downtown offering a mix of American and international cuisines and both sweet and savory options. Craft and artisan vendors will join them on the streets. There will also be educational and interactive booths for the whole family.
The festival will be full of fun activities from start to finish. Some highlights:
- Free trolley service from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Attendees can park and ride from Wilkins Auto at 412 Wicker Street or the Mann Center at 507 N. Steele Street.
- To celebrate Sanford’s sesquicentennial, “Tomorrowland” will showcase what’s next for Sanford with train rides, local food samples from Tasting Queens Market, and pumpkin painting.
- The Lee County Library will host historic walking tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. departing from their booth in the fun zone.
- Paperhand Puppet petting zoo and parade at 3 p.m. plus mascots and roving characters throughout the afternoon.
- N. Steele Street fun featuring a touch-a-truck and LCPR fun zone with a low sensory play area.
- Outdoor Fest at the Visit Sanford Welcome Center representing the area’s top outdoor attractions from fishing and boating to golf and pickleball.
The Lee County Community Orchestra will take the main stage at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks will light up the sky shortly after, depending on weather. Moore Street will offer the best view. There is no rain date for fireworks.
View the StreetFest & Fireworks schedule, map, parking, entertainment, food truck and vendor lists, and more at www.sanfordstreetfest.com. Stay updated with the festival on Facebook and Instagram. For text updates specific to StreetFest, including schedule reminders during the festival, text SF2024 to 38276.
Downtown Sanford StreetFest & Fireworks is presented by Central Carolina Hospital and managed by Downtown Sanford, Inc. in partnership with the City of Sanford, Visit Sanford, and El Refugio.