SACO — Main Street will become a car-free, pedestrian-only zone for the day on Saturday, during the 44th annual Saco Sidewalk Arts Festival.
The festival, sponsored by local economic development group Saco Spirit, will bring about 100 artists displaying their work to the downtown, said Saco Spirit interim President Johanna Hoffman.
The festival begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m.
Hoffman said there will be all kinds of arts and crafts on display, including textile works, wood carvings, photography, jewelry, watercolors and oil paintings. Local nonprofits will also have booths, and Saco Spirit will operate a food stand.
More than 30 spaces for crafters have been moved from Pepperell Square to Main Street this year. Main Street will be closed off to traffic from Water Street to Thornton Avenue from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closing Main Street to vehicular traffic is new this year, said Hoffman.
“It’s been coming for quite a while,” she said.
She said a few artists said they didn’t want to come back unless Main Street was closed off, and several years ago, one booth was clipped by a car.
Hoffman said the closing off of Main Street for the day was reviewed by the city’s Traffic Safety Commission, and Saco Spirit received input from local merchants before making the decision.
In addition to browsing the wares on offer, festival-goers can also try a hand at their own artwork, by decorating a city trash can, through the “Trash Can Be Beautiful” project, hosted by the city’s public works department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will be provided a city trash barrel that has been cleaned, sanded and primed, along with basic paint colors and brushes, according to a statement from the city.
“Here’s your opportunity to put your own creative stamp on a city trash barrel,” reads the statement. “This project is great for families, youth groups, or anyone interested in making our city greener and cleaner.”
Barrels will be set up in locations around Camp Ellis and Ferry Beach for the summer.
As well, the Dyer Library/Saco Museum will host its “colossal yard sale” on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds will benefit library and museum programs.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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