Celebration in Rockford's Midtown district
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<p align="justify">Sharon Hendricks may run a business downtown, but she knows the success of neighboring business districts plays a role in how her shop fares.
<p align="justify">That's why she volunteered to help organize the first Midtown Festival, a summer street celebration designed to draw attention to the revitalization efforts of the Midtown District.
<p align="justify">"I'd like to see the Midtown District be alive again," said Hendricks, who runs Eclectic Design at 308 E. State St. "And I'd like to see more collaboration among different neighborhoods and groups."
<p align="justify">Various Midtown groups - notably the LLL, Ellida, VFW, Lyran and Baltic clubs and Zion and Salem Lutheran churches - began planning for this year's festival shortly after wrapping up a small festival geared toward twentysomethings last summer. They decided to broaden the scope of entertainment and have lined up 17 food vendors peddling everything from egg rolls to gelato, a car show along Seventh Street and local musical acts, including Southern Heritage, Jodi Beach Trio and Miles Nielsen.
<p align="justify">There also will be plenty of the traditional summer festival fare: raffles, bingo, a dunk tank, children's games, art booths and a beer garden. Admission is free, but attendees have to pay for food purchases.
<p align="justify">"It's a festival that can appeal to a pretty wide range of ages," Midtown District Association President Bill Mohr said.
<p align="justify">Proceeds - namely sponsorship money and 10 percent of food sales - will go to the Midtown District Association to continue beautification efforts in the neighborhood, between East State Street and Broadway. The association wants to put together a brochure highlighting improvements in the neighborhood and available business opportunities, Mohr said.
<p align="justify">The group intends to make the festival an annual event to celebrate what it hopes is continued progress each year.
<p align="justify">"They've been cleaning up a lot of things around here," Hendricks said. "We're trying to get the area renovated and to a point where more people want to come and enjoy what's there."
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