The office has moved to the other side of the Benton Public Square, but upcoming activities remain the same.
Alan Odom, organization chair of Downtown Benton, Inc., said the DBI office has relocated to his office across the street from US Bank.
"There is a great group of dedicated volunteers who are working on our core events for the year," he said. "The first is the fifth annual Antique Street Festival, being held Saturday, June 5.
"We are expanding both the street festival and our upcoming concert series for the year," Odom said. "We will continue with the popular Ladies Night Out and our Christmas activities."
Vendors are welcome to participate, Odom said.
"Vendors can start setting up on their assigned parking spaces at 6 a.m. on June 5," he said.
The street festival begins at 8 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. The vendor fee is $30 for two spaces and $15 for one parking space.
"We have also changed our mailing address to Downtown Benton, Inc., c/o Benton City Hall, 500 W. Main St., Benton, IL 62812, and have vendor applications available on our Web site at www.downtownbenton.org."
Odom said additions have been made to this year's street festival.
"In addition to the restaurants and antique shops being open, we are welcoming Nick's Okla-Tex Bar-B-Q to plate up barbecue during the event," he said. "The Benton Rangerettes will have a dunking booth to raise money for new uniforms and for girls' athletics. There will also be face painting, and we are working on other activities for the kids. The dunking booth and face painting will be in Capitol Park. The Benton Rangerettes will also be selling funnel cakes and sodas.
"Across the square in Dan Malkovich Park will be another part of the popular event," Odom said. "Residents are invited to bring their treasures from closets and attics to see what they are worth during our antique appraisal show being held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This always draws a good crowd."
Music by the band Freedom begins at 2 p.m. in the Billy Grammer Band Shelter of Capitol Park, he said.
"We are also working with Benton Farmers Market to have them set up during the antique street festival," Odom said. "We think this would be a great opportunity for those vendors to sell their products on the square."
Vendors are urged to contact Tammy at Memories Antiques & Collectibles on the public square. Odom may be e-mailed at alan.odom@downtownbenton.org or contacted by phone at 439-9753.
Benton, Ill. —
