Spring Fest is in the Air!

Saturday, May 21st, 2011!

Join us for a day of fun and community this Saturday in beautiful  historic downtown Urbana, Ohio.

Our outdoor marketplace will begin at 11 a.m. with downtown sidewalk sales, food vendors, music, and family activities. Community organizations will be present with information and more interactive activities and giveaways!

Beginning at 11 a.m., visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite downtown window display. Simply stop into the store of your choice and cast a ballot at the counter (ballots will be located in each store). One lucky voter will win a $25 gift certificate to Freshwater Farms in Urbana!

At noon, the Spring Fest Community Bike Parade will begin at Steve's Market & Deli (324 N. Main St.). The parade is open to all ages, no registration required. We simply ask that anyone participating be at Steve's by 11:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded at that time for the best decorated bikes! The parade will continue south past the post office & theatre on S. Main St.

Fun Strider PREbike demos for children 1-5 will be located at the Vernon Funeral Home parking lot on Miami St. along with the Urbana Police Department's Safety Town course for children!

The Spring Fest Fashion Show featuring apparel from Sweet Annie, Little Ones, The Monkey Barrel Boutique and the shops at Absolute Floral will begin at 12:30 on the court house steps (corner of Main & Court St.).

Live music, food, activities, and outdoor marketplace will continue during and after the parade until 4 p.m.

Spring Fest Music Lineup:
John & Josh O'Lalde
Fireside with Phil & Tony
John Watkins
Michael Fittro
Nick Robinson



Participating Vendors:
Tri-County Community Action, Champaign Quilters Guild, American Red Cross, Chapel Hill Church, Team Zoe, Johnny Appleseed Museum, Art on Main, Stepping Stones, YMCA, Champaign County Library, Cancer Association of Champaign County, Sycamore House, Urbana Elementary PTA, Soroptimist Club of Urbana, A.B. Graham Memorial Center, Daydreamers Ice Cream and more!

Downtown Urbana in an Hour or Less

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Rebecca Paciorek of TRAVELHOST magazine of Greater Cincinnati/Dayton. After chatting at The Depot Coffeehouse, we braved the cold wind and took a stroll around downtown so I could share some of my favorite spots with Rebecca. 

Little Ones Children's Resale Shop

We first ducked into Little Ones children's resale shop, where last spring, owner Tammy Davis transformed a beautiful downtown space into a children's wonderland. She carries gently-used items for children of all ages & expecting mothers. With three small children and a tight budget, Little Ones has been a life saver! 

Our next stop was Absolute Floral, where we admired the racks of beautiful clothing, vintage decor, gifts and little treasures around every corner! Still trying to justify buying that gorgeous lilac prom dress in the window, ladies!

The Boston 121 N. Main

Because our time was limited, we did some speedy window shopping at Guild Galleries, The Green Owl & Courtney's Cupboard, where we admired bright spring colors and fantasied about what pieces of decor we'd include in our dream homes!

We both fell in love with The Boston store's cozy new cellar addition. An late eighteenth century building space that's been untouched for decades is now alive with color, beauty, and charm. We highly recommend a visit!

As we crossed the square braving the bitter wind, we decided we should treat ourselves to some Sweet Annie, where I think Rebecca could have spend the entire day among the beautiful Vera Bradley and new Brighton designs! 

It's Spring at Sweet Annie

Everyday Organics & Specialty Food Market was our last stop of the morning, where we played, "name that amazing smell"! Candles, vitamins, bath & body, and of course some of the most amazing food in town (do not skip the cheese case)!

Even though the sun refused to make an appearance, I took so much pleasure in introducing my guest to our wonderful downtown. If we had more time, this post would be close to never-ending! I've left out so many amazing eateries, retail shops, and lovely places to sit and absorb the beauty of historic downtown Urbana. 

Within the weeks leading up to our downtown Spring Fest event, I'll be sharing as much of these as possible with you, but ideally you'll get to experience Urbana for yourself and claim your own favorites!

Many downtown Urbana businesses have their own websites and Facebook pages so feel free to check them out online until you're able visit. 

Thank you to Rebecca for spending a blustery Tuesday morning with me and thank you all for following our Spring Fest page. It's going to be an amazing spring and an amazing event on May 21st. See you there!