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Smithfield narrows Market Street closure for Ham & Yam festival, approves one‑year trial
Summary
Council adopted an ordinance to permit Market Street closure for the Ham & Yam festival but narrowed the closure to run from Front Street to Fourth Street for this year and removed the annual Christmas tree-lighting and parade from the ordinance; council stressed public-safety planning and a one‑year trial period.
The Town of Smithfield council on Monday adopted an amended ordinance authorizing closure of Market Street for the Ham & Yam festival, approving a narrowed boundary for the 2025 event and designating the change as a trial for council review.
Council discussion began after the mayor returned to the dais and staff explained the purpose: the Ham & Yam promotions committee requested full use of Market Street so the festival can host a car show, antique tractors and multiple music stages without through traffic. Staff and committee members said closures would help pedestrian flow and allow festival vendors to spread along Market Street.
Public‑safety concerns and traffic access dominated the debate. Council members asked whether emergency vehicle access, barricades and vehicle barriers would be in place and suggested keeping Fourth Street passable from the south to reduce neighborhood cut-throughs. Police and staff said they would prepare a public-safety plan, coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions for officer assistance if needed, deploy signage and provide parking maps and digital directions for attendees.
Councilors also questioned closing Market Street all the way to Seventh Street; the promotions committee and staff indicated they expected to keep the closure as compact as possible but wanted flexibility if vehicle and vendor counts required expansion. After discussion the council amended the ordinance to limit the 2025 closure to Front Street through Fourth Street, removed the annual Christmas tree-lighting and annual Christmas parade from this ordinance (but left the Martin Luther King Jr. parade), and specified the change as a one‑year trial.
Staff noted the closure ordinance is required by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) for certain street-closing permits; councilors and staff agreed to a formal after-action review following the 2025 event to assess traffic, safety and business impacts. The ordinance passed on a voice vote.
Council members said the town will publish parking maps, engage the sheriff’s office and neighboring police as needed, and consider larger vehicle barricades to prevent vehicles from entering pedestrian areas. Staff estimated this year’s festival planning aims for a larger crowd than previous years — promotions committee members referenced past attendance of about 10,000 and an aspiration of 15,000 this year — and underscored that adjustments will be made after the trial run.
