Exciting two-day event

To the Editor,

The Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce has put heart and soul into planning an exciting two day event this weekend, Mollyockett Days. It has evolved from a very small community bazaar in the 1950s to a full-fledged destination festival that we hope will bring business and commerce to the area, the various vendors who have rented space on the common (area non-profits and for-profit businesses) and at the same time—be a source of community pride.

One of the items the chamber has considered is the additional vehicular traffic that this event will bring into the village. Parking is at a premium on the village streets, so we have created Festival Parking areas that will provide some organization to what can be very tedious as people drive around and around trying to find a parking space.

Festival parking lots will be indicated by red signs and can be found at the following locations: Crescent Park School; Gould Academy parking lots on Church Street, across from the Field House and on High Street, in back of the Bethel House; the grass lots in Bethel Station, on Lower Main Street, across from the Bethel Sewer Plant and on Cross Street, across from the Casablanca Cinema, and in the back parking lot behind the Cinema.

We will have a designated “drop-off” spot near the common, where families can drop off those members who cannot walk the distance to the parking lots. It will be marked as such.

Folks are also reminded that the section of Broad Street, from Upper Main Street to Mason Street will be closed for the majority of Saturday, to allow free-flowing pedestrian access between the Bethel Library, the Bethel Historical Society and the Bethel Common. Mason Street will be a one-way street for the entire weekend as well. The one-way traffic flow will be away from the common–toward Chapman Street

We would also like to remind everyone that the Kennett Realty/Michael T. Steven Mollyockett Days foot races will be held on Sunday morning, with the one-mile event starting at 8 a.m., the five-mile and walking event starting at 8:30 a.m. During this time, please yield to the participants, to chamber safety volunteers, and to the Oxford County Police who will be helping out at the event. If you’d like to participate, you may register at the chamber tent on the common on Saturday, or even Sunday morning. The first annual Mollyockett Days Diaper Dash and Derby, for crawlers and toddlers, will begin at approximately 10 a.m. on the common. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser–so bring your camera!

It is our intention to provide the community an excellent event and we hope to see you there. Volunteer slots are still available–call the chamber at 824-2282 if you’d like to help.

Robin Zinchuk

Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce