Like any major town event, Flowertown Festival traffic will likely be inevitable, but here is a guide to help lower drivers’ blood pressure.
Road closures
During the festival, South Main Street will close around 7:30 a.m. for vendor access only and then at 8 a.m. it will completely shut down from West Richardson Avenue to the Five Points intersection. The street will reopen between 6:30 and 7 p.m.
West 6th South Street to the Five Points intersection will have no through traffic during the festival. South Gum Street and South Magnolia Street will temporarily be turned into one-way streets. Sgt. Mike Gregory with the Summerville Police department said those streets will be marked to show which direction traffic will flow.
Side streets between South Magnolia and South Main will be closed as well.
Gregory said "no parking" areas will be clearly marked as well; residents are advised not to park in such a way that prevents residents from accessing their property, and drivers need to leave space in the road for emergency vehicles.
Parking
There will not be any shuttles this year. The park-and-ride at the corner of East 6th Street and Berlin G. Myers Parkway will not allow festival-goers to park in that lot.
The town’s parking garage, which has handicapped spaces, will be open and free of charge. The garage is at 145 Central Ave. The first floor of the parking garage is for town employees. Handicap parking will also be available at First Citizens Bank on Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors can park at the three area schools around the festival: Rollings Middle School of the Arts is located at 815 S. Main St.; Spann Elementary is located at 901 John McKissick Way and Summerville Elementary is located at 835 S. Main St.
Bethany United Methodist at 118 W. 3rd St. S is offering $5 parking; Rachel Carter, director of student ministries, said youth members will direct visitors where to park. The $5 is good for a day pass. Proceeds go to the student ministries at the church.
Summerville Presbyterian at 407 S. Laurel St. is offering parking for both visitors and vendors: vendors can park for $15 a day or purchase a weekend pass – that includes Thursday night – for $70. Visitors can park for $5 or they can get a pass for the whole weekend for $12. Rachel Danforth, director of youth and college ministries, said proceeds go to the youth ministry.
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church is also offering $5 parking that will go toward a youth summer camp fundraiser.
