Business was "brisk" at the Downtown Business Alliance ice cream stand, where Friday night patrons attempted to
purchase cooling refreshments.

 

"Red Hot" Music on Main Street,
Friday Night

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Entertainer, Stan Narramore, opened Friday night's open-air performance
with a number of blues favorites.

 

Almost 350 local residents "braved the heat" and made their way to Main Street for the music festival on Friday night, that opens the Independence Weekend in Downtown Sulphur Springs. With temperatures hovering over 100 degrees, on Friday afternoon, many residents chose to "wait 'til the sun went down" to arrive, but the crowd continued to grow as people "drifted in with their lawn chairs" and took advantage of street vendors, who offered cooling refreshments.

"I'm excited at the blend of age groups represented in the crowd," exclaimed  Rita Edwards, Chairman of the Downtown Business Alliance and an ice cream vendor at the event. "The festival has attracted a large crowd that is representitive of all the age groups and that's nice to appeal to so many people!"

 

The crowd took full advantage of fans offered compliments of Alliance Bank, and relaxed in lawn
chairs, on the parking lot, off Main Street.

 

 

"The crowd just continued to swell," exclaimed a jubilant Hopkins County Tourism Director, Joey Baker, as he observed folks drifting in, as temperatures fell. "We were worried that the extreme heat wave we're expriencing would thwart our crowd, but seems like folks just keep coming to enjoy good music, once things have begun to cool down!"

 

And, local resident, Barbara McKenzie, demonstrates to her granddaughter
how to make a cooling fan from a piece of paper, as they enjoyed
Friday night's performances.

 

Stan Narramore opened the concert, that began at 7:30 p.m., and "got the crowd jiving" with a number of fast-paced, blues numbers. Then, at approximately 8:15 p.m., brothers, Edgar and Mark Anthony Cruz, residents of Oklahoma and Austin, respectively, took the stage and delivered a "finger-pickin'" performance that was termed "daedal" by many of those who enjoyed the open-air atmosphere of downtown Main Street.

 

 

City Councilman, Clay Walker, visits with Downtown Business Alliance members Joy Wilson and
Rita Edwards, as they attempt to "pass-out" fans, that were compliments of Alliance Bank.

 

"The music was great!" exclaimed City Councilman, Clay Walker, who was enjoying the concert with both family and friends. "These guys are a talented group of performers and just what we had in mind when the festival was discussed, something folks could come out and enjoy on a pleasant night in downtown Sulphur Springs! Hopefully, the next concert will be a little bit cooler, but the fans and the misters, along with the refreshments make even the Texas heat bearable!"

 

Mark Anthony and Edgar Cruz took the stage at approximately 8:15 p.m.
and delighted the crowd with their performances.

 

During the program, Edgar Cruz warned the audience that "maybe you need a little bit more salsa in your diet, so you can imitate these Mariachi sounds!"

 

 

 

The lively program ended at approximately 10:30 p.m., with patrons expressing a wonderful time and looking forward to returning on Saturday night for the annual Independence Day symphony music and fireworks show, slated for 7:45 p.m. Refreshments will also be offered to aid in "beating the heat" on Saturday night!

 

Friday night's music festival on Main Street was termed a success,"as a family venue that appealed to
all ages!"

 

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