BIA prepares for Midnight Madness, Aug. 17
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

The finishing touches are being put in place for the Bolton Business Improvement Area's big event of the year, Midnight Madness.

Nine members of the BIA met last Monday night at Kings on Queen to iron out the final details for the annual event that attracts thousands of people to the downtown core for a night of entertainment and shopping.

This year's fun and excitement will be held Friday, Aug. 17 starting in the early evening. Regional Road 50 (Queen Street North) will be closed from King Street to Mill Street.

BIA chair Deborah Read noted Peel region has changed its policy regarding special events and starting next year the BIA will have to pay the costs for the road closure. The region wanted to start charging the BIA this year, but Councillor Annette Groves was able to get the costs waived one last time.

"We're off the hook this year anyway," Read said.

She added BIA members are welcome to supply their own table outside, but other vendors from outside the BIA would have to pay a $150 fee to set up. Vendors can set up only on the west side of Queen Street North. The east side must be kept open for emergency vehicles.

BIA secretary Shirley Hoppler said the BIA also has permission from Daryl Black to use vacant Harvest Markets parking lot. The Tim Hortons drive-through will be closed.

The evening's entertainment will include New Hollywood, Your New Neighbours, Miss Jenny and the Caledon Concert Band. The stage will be supplied by Music 21. Party Magic will provide 150 chairs. There will also be a dunk tank, horse and buggy, Tai Chi demo and face painting. Kings on Queen will host a billiards tournament.

Hoppler said many merchants will be doing a sidewalk sale. Food vendors include the Rotary Clubs of Bolton and Palgrave, the Kinsmen Club of Bolton, Zaganella's, Sheila Lewis and Kings on Queen.

The new barbershop will be selling coffee and the new sushi restaurant will be doing sushi outside. There will also be an ice cream truck and a vendor selling Belgian waffles.

Representatives from Into The Mystik, Inside Out Family Chiropratic and Humber Valley Dental all indicated they will be doing displays outside.

Hoppler also noted they're still working on getting a shuttle bus that can take people up to the south hill. Forster's Book Garden, Liquidation World, Toby Jug, Dairy Queen and Hilltop Florist have all expressed an interest in participating in Midnight Madness as well.