Tazewell council approves street closures for Route 16 Music Festival

The Town of Tazewell approved an application to close West Street starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and to close Main Street all day Saturday until 11 a.m. to allow tents, staging and vendor space for the Route 16 Music Festival.

Mayor (S2) put the motion on the floor and, after discussion about the exact footprint and emergency access, the council voted to approve the permit; the mayor announced the motion carried (reported in the meeting as 5 to 0). The organizers said the wider footprint will allow tents and vendor space and that they will work with local businesses to reduce negative impacts.

Organizers described outreach and prior marketing efforts, noting they had used billboards, radio and digital ads last year and aim to expand sponsorship and outreach this year. One organizer (Presenter, S5) told the council, "We don't have to do this at all. But we want to do it because we're here. We're invested in this town clearly." The comment was offered while explaining why the group seeks town support and coordination.

Town staff (Staff member, S10) and council members discussed training and certification for volunteer traffic marshals and whether the town can run local certification so volunteers would not need to travel to another jurisdiction for training. Council members also pressed for assurances that the fire department's access needs would be preserved; organizers said they planned to coordinate with emergency services and to adjust the closure footprint if required.

With the permit approved, organizers still have an outstanding application for sponsorship assistance from the town and will proceed with event setup plans and vendor coordination.