When the 25th Annual "Dancin in the Streets" Festival kicks off later this morning in and around the Beaches Town Center, music lovers are going to get a real treat as bands will be performing on two stages for the entire day. Event Director, Patsy Bishop said, “Our one day festival has always been about the music, that’s why on our 25th anniversary-the lineup includes all our favorite locals.” Fusebox Funk will be the headliner, playing tonight on the Ocean Street stage at 8:30, but there are lots of local artists who will be taking the stage throughout the day, including The Mosquitos, fronted by lifelong beach resident and funny man, John Tipton.
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| John Tipton (upside down) and The Mosquitos. |
This year’s festival will also include an attempt to set the world record for the "World's Largest Hokey Pokey Dance". Two bands will be leading it - The Mosquitos and Amy Hendrickson & The Prime Directive at 5:30 pm. The current Guinness World Record largest Hokey Pokey dance is 7,384 participants, and was organized at FryFest in Coralville, Iowa, on September 3, 2010. Of course, everyone is invited, and are encouraged to bring lots of friends, relatives and neighbors in the attempt at the world record.
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| Dancin in the Streets! |
Although traditionally large volumes of alcohol are consumed over the course of the day, there will be plenty of food available as well. Local restaurants support the event and sell some mighty mouthwatering morsels (say that fast ten times...) to keep your energy up and keep you going for as long as possible!
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| Yum yum, Mojo's! |
While the festival began as a musical event, dancing isn’t the only attraction. It has grown into a much bigger outing, bringing many beaches residents together once a year in a special setting. The one day event is also very kid friendly, with one block, from Atlantic Blvd to Ahern Street on Ocean Blvd, set off as the Kid Zone, and will be staffed by over one hundred volunteers who are raising money to support high school clubs and area PTA’s. For kids and adults looking for some active fun, there will be a 25’ climbing wall made of realistic granite rock with the climber placed in a harness, weight limit per climber is 300 lbs. The Kid’s Zone offers a $12.00 wristband for endless turns on six inflatables; all other activities will be pay per play.
In addition to all of the music, food and kid’s activities, an art show featuring 45 artists will be available on First and Lemon Streets. Many regional and local artists call this their favorite event of the year and will display their finest works. Dancin in the Streets” also serves as a fund raiser to support the Beaches Town Center. Many local residents have a special bond to the neighborhood and want to preserve and enhance the unique setting that is the Beaches Town Center.
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| Local artist, Gary Mack |
Ed Smith Lumber once sat at the corner of First and Lemon Streets in Neptune Beach, an area that has been revitalized into a quaint shopping experience for locals, townies and travelers alike. Diagonally across the street from Ed Smith’s was (and still is) Pete’s Bar, a gem of a drinking establishment that has been around longer than Wikipedia, Google or Facebook could tell me. Its an old school, rough and tumble, some might say dive, but absolute favorite watering hole (at least at some time or another) that sits right in the heart of the Beaches Town Center. Add Ragtime, Ocean 60, Sun Dog. Mezzaluna, Lillie’s, Lubek’s Jewelry and Sliders into the mix and you can see why this is such a special area.
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| Pete's Bar |
Word is that the festival will close down a little earlier this year than in previous years, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. With so many hot night spots centered into such a small area, the fun will continue long into the night, and who knows, for some, maybe all the way into the morning. Don’t worry about waking up with a hangover though, you’ll have a whole year to recuperate until you can do it again. At least at the Dancin In the Streets Festival anyway!
TONIGHT'S LINE-UPS
Orange St. Stage
11:30 Governors Club
12:30 Chroma
1:30 The Great State
2:30 Something Distant
3:30 Blistur
4:30 Glass Camels
5:30 Amy Hendrickson & The Prime Directive 5:30 (Hokey Pokey)
12:00 Fourplay
1:00 BayStreet
2:00 Str8 Up
3:00 Whyte Python
4:00 Retro Kats
5:00 The Mosquitos 5:30 (Hokey Pokey)
6:20 Boogie Freaks
7:30 Lucky Stiff with Friends
8:30 Fusebox Funk
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