Say you’re at Market Days with your kids and the family dog. Everybody’s having a high old time, hunting for bargains, listening to music and meeting old friends. Then, all of a sudden, the dog is thirsty, the baby needs feeding and you’re in desperate, desperate need of a bathroom.
Don’t fret! We’re here to solve your problems with this little guide to the logistics to Market Days:
Getting there
Parts of downtown will be closed to traffic during Market Days. Streets sans cars include North Main Street between Pleasant and Centre streets, South Main Street between Pleasant Street and Hills Avenue, and Park Street between Main and State streets. Pleasant Street will remain open to traffic.
Use Storrs or State streets to bypass the closed area. The Concord police ask you to please drive slowly when approaching downtown as pedestrians will be everywhere.
We probably don’t have to tell you this, but parking at Market Days is never, ever easy. If you’d like to skip the whole ordeal we suggest riding your bike or taking a city bus.
City buses will run on their normal schedules. If you ride your bike, park it in a special area outside the Concord Cooperative Market. Please don’t ride your bikes (or skateboards) amid the festivities. We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt.
You didn’t listen to us…
So you’re going to drive anyway. Fine! We suggest parking the Capital Commons garage. Yeah, it’s gotten a bad rap for being hard to use, but it’s not that bad, promise. Give it a try! Other garages are located on Warren, State and Storrs streets.
If you park on the street, be careful. City parking rules will be heavily enforced during the festival. Parking in metered spots will cost you 50 cents per hour. If you’re looking for a free (and legal) place to leave your car, troll the neighborhoods around downtown. Just pay attention to the signs that note time limits.
Please, please, please don’t park in the Market Basket lot on Storrs Street while you’re attending the festival. First, it’s not nice to the businesses in that plaza. Second, you’re likely to get a ticket.
This one’s for you, baby!
For the third year in a row, CenterPoint Church will operate a “baby pit stop” with emergency diapering supplies and a private place to change and feed the little ones. We also heard that church volunteers will be handing out balloons to older children (and adults).
The pit stop will be located on the State House lawn and will operate throughout the festival.
When nature calls
The city maintains public restrooms in Bicentennial Square, a small park on Warren Street. Portable toilets are located throughout downtown.
Fido needs a break, too
Pets and their owners will want to stop by the Concord Cooperative Market during their tour of Market Days. The co-op is hosting a pet pit stop complete with snacks, water and a wading pool for tired paws. Please make sure your pets are leashed and under control.
Paying for it all
There’s no charge to participate in many Market Days activities and, chances are, you’ll walk away with some fabulous, free swag, but many vendors do charge for their goods and services. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but cash is handy too.
If you need to restock your wallet mid-festival, you’re in luck. Main Street is just full of banks with walk-up ATMs.
