50s theme planned for this year's Mayfest

Main Street Blytheville is getting ready to "Rock Around the Block" for this year's 1950s-themed Mayfest celebration, as the organization prepares for what it hopes will be another record-setting event.

Main Street Blytheville is sticking with what works as the organization readies for this year's Mayfest, scheduled for the weekend of Mother's Day, and this year the event will feature a few new items and a big named gospel act to headline the event, as well as a 1950s theme, "Rock Around the Block."

"Basically we're doing the same thing we've been doing in the past. That's really what works for us -- for Mayfest," said L.C. Harsfield who was hired part-time by the Main Street board to serve in interim until a new director is hired. "This year we're going to have a rock wall for the kids to climb, and that's sponsored by the U.S. Army National Guard. We've got everything set for this year's gospel stage, including the headliner, Jason Crabb of the Crabb Family, a well-known gospel singing group."

This year, among the many food carts and booths that are expected to come out for Mayfest, there will be a Popeye's Louisiana Chicken catering truck at the event. Hartsfield said the owner of a Popeye's chain recently purchased land in Blytheville and hopes to use Mayfest to test out the market before starting construction on a restaurant in Blytheville.

Although the organization isn't making many changes to this year's event, Hartsfield said he still hopes to see attendance numbers up over last year's. Last year saw approximately 7,000 people come out to Mayfest, the biggest since Mayfest began. So far, MSB is ahead of this time last year in booth reservations, and expects a big jump once May hits.

"Last year was great, and I expect it's going to be better this year. I certainly have called more people and sent out more invitations, so I'm hoping we'll get even more people out this year. It needs to grow -- every year it needs to grow," Hartsfield said. "Right now we're a little ahead of where we were in the first week of April (last year). We don't have very many (booths), but that's because our local people tend to hang back and often don't get involved early. You know, people here don't really make plans until they can see that 10-day forecast or whatever else to make sure it's clear, and then we'll get a bunch of people coming in. But we do already have several churches and a number of people who are some of our regulars there who have already signed up for booth space.

Hartsfield said whether it's Mayfest or any other event, MSB's main goals are to grow and to promote the downtown area, and Blytheville as a whole.

"Last year was the biggest event we'd had, and that's what we're here for. We're here to promote downtown and to promote Blytheville. We're here to see all of this grow," he said.

Former MSB Director Megan Atzert left in February, and while that leaves a hole in the organization for a permanent director, Hartsfield said board members are being patient and getting a few things in order before they start looking for a new full-time director. He added that the board doesn't have a set timeline for when they are going to announce the position's vacancy for applicants.

For now, MSB is focused on a successful Mayfest and the start of this year's fundraising campaign, which Hartsfield said he expects to begin fairly soon. The yearly fundraising campaign is important for MSB, as the group looks to add stability and self-sustainability to the organization. Fundraising events will be along the lines of what the organization has done in the past, but this year Hartsfield said he is looking to reach out a little further as well as hoping to tap into resources they haven't gone after strongly in the past. At this time no details about the campaign are confirmed.

MSB also has a new promotions committee that is expected to start meeting soon and is chaired by William King. The committee will promote everything MSB does, according to Hartsfield, who said, "Basically they'll be promoting 'Come to Downtown' and all the things we do."

For more information on Mayfest or any of Main Street Blytheville's events, call 870-763-2525.

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com