ST. GEORGE – The night sky over Historic Downtown St. George will come alive Friday when “George Streetfest” celebrates its first anniversary with the “June Moon Jubilee.”
Partnering with St. George Races and Brad Harr & Associates, George Streetfest will offer a full evening of live music, a Moonlight 5K race, light parade, DJ paint party, midnight movie at the Electric Theater and much more.
Beginning at 6 p.m., Streetfest goers will find an extensive array of enjoyable, family-friendly activities.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a full year since we launched George,” George Streetfest Founder and Executive Producer, Melynda Thorpe said. “We’re delighted that the event has grown to become southern Utah’s favorite nightlife event, and something we all look forward to.”
Thorpe added that the event organizers are thrilled that St. George City Recreation and Brad Harr & Associates have chosen to collaborate this month in putting on the best birthday party possible for George.
At the Main Street Free Concert attendees will be treated to outstanding live music by local favorites Beans & Wheels, who performed at the first streetfest in June of 2015. Alternative rock band Foreign Figures of Provo will headline the main stage at 8:30 p.m.
At the Desert Pulse Jazz Garden located in the courtyard at Ancestor Square, 2 W. St. George Blvd., those 21 and over will enjoy tasty tapas from favorite Historic Downtown restaurants paired with specialty sodas and adult beverages. .
Additionally, jazz enthusiasts will enjoy a jazz jam session led by the jazz garden house band and featuring a variety of local artists. From 9 p.m. to midnight Dick Earl’s Electric Witness will serve up a powerful menu of blues, followed by an acoustic jam with a few of Dick’s friends until closing.
While supplies last a George Streetfest birthday cake will be served at the jazz garden.
June’s celebration will also mark the return of the George Streetfest Passport to the City. Distributed free to all attendees at the George Store tent on Main, the Passport contains spaces which can be stamped when holders visit various street vendors and attractions. Once all spaces in the booklet have been filled, it can be traded in at the Desert Pulse Jazz Garden for a chance to win prizes such as Tuacahn tickets, T-shirts and gift certificates to favorite historic downtown restaurants.
The culmination of the “June Moon Jubilee” will be a light parade presented by Brad Harr & Associates. During the parade, glowing floats will traverse a course from Dixie State University’s North Plaza building down Tabernacle Street. Parade participants – including a float created for the St. George Recreation Department by Youth City Council members – will be decked out in day-glow paints and clothing.
The “Moonlight 5K” gets underway at 11 p.m., taking runners and walkers on a 3.1-mile loop from Ancestor Square through Historic Downtown and concluding with a DJ glow-paint party at the main stage.
At midnight, TDS Telecom will host a midnight movie at the Electric Theater with a showing of “McFarland, USA,” starring Kevin Costner.
“The St. George summer is well known for its heat, so we thought that a nighttime family-friendly celebration would be a great way to provide something unique and comfortable for local residents and the visitors who flock to St. George on vacation,” Race and Special Events Coordinator for the City of St. George Recreation Department, Aaron Metler, said. “Partnering with George Streetfest and Brad Harr is a wonderful way to bring together several events all of which fit with the city’s tradition of providing families with a way to participate together.”
George Streetfest on Main is a nightlife event designed to celebrate the best of Southern Utah on the first Friday of every month from 6-10 p.m. with the Desert Pulse Jazz Garden open until midnight from April-Oct.
The event is presented by Historic Downtown St. George and Emceesquare Media and is sponsored in 2016 by the City of St. George, St. George Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Canyon Media, St. George News, Etched Magazine, The Independent, Wingate by Windham Hotel, TDS Telecom, The Desert Pulse, Tuacahn Center for the Arts and Iron Gate Winery.
For more information or to become a vendor, visit the George Streetfest website, or email [email protected]. George Streetfest organizers are now accepting applications for street market vendors, buskers, food vendors and farmer’s market vendors.
Schedule of events
- 6 p.m. | George Streetfest opens | Beans & Wheels performs on the main stage
- 6-10 p.m. | George Jr. Village open
- 6-10:30 p.m. | Moonlight 5K registration/packet pickup
- 6 p.m. to midnight | Desert Pulse Jazz Garden | 6:30 p.m. jazz jam session | 9 p.m. Dick Earl’s Electric Witness | George birthday cake while supplies last.
- 9:30-11 p.m. | Brad Harr & Associates Light Parade
- 11 p.m. | Moonlight 5K | Black light after party and awards ceremony
- Midnight | Screening of “McFarland, USA” at the Electric Theater, 68 E. Tabernacle, St. George
- Midnight to 1 a.m. | Main Street glow party with live DJ
Resources
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews