Smaller events may take Apple Chill's place
Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation members recommend concerts, craft show
Published: Thu, May. 18, 2006 12:30AM
Modified Thu, May. 18, 2006 02:51AM
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closeCHAPEL HILL -- Town leaders should think small as they look to "replace the community-building spirit of Apple Chill," members of the Parks and Recreation Commission said Wednesday.
They were intrigued by ideas presented by staff members of hosting a summer concert series that would be held at various local parks, and/or holding an indoor holiday craft show in December.
These events would happen instead of the Apple Chill street fair, a 35-year tradition that came to an end last month after three people were shot during the unofficial "After Chill" event that clogged streets with cars, motorcycles and people.
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Town leaders are looking to get away from concentrated large-scale events that require blocking off Franklin Street and deploying hundreds of police officers.
Town Council members, at their meeting Monday, will discuss the future of two other such events: the autumn arts fair Festifall, and the non-sanctioned Halloween celebration on Franklin Street.
They'll also get a first look at the alternatives.
The summer concert series could be held at Cedar Falls park on Weaver Dairy Road, the Chapel Hill Community Center on Estes Drive, or other locales.
Bands could be joined by food and crafts vendors, a scaled-down version of Apple Chill that officials hope would attract mostly locals. Many of the troublemakers in past years have been from out of town.
"Each of these events could have a totally different flavor," said Kathryn Spatz, director of parks and recreation.
The concert series would run from April through July.
The craft show would be held during a weekend at an indoor location.
Staff members said in a memo that it would be "an opportunity to continue the tradition of arts and crafts programming in the parks and recreation department."
Several commission members said they thought After Chill gave the otherwise "wonderful" Apple Chill event a bum rap. They want to keep the good and discourage the bad.
"I think it was a great thing," said commission member Eugene Farrar. "It's on hold until we have looked at some other way of doing it."
Staff writer Matt Dees can be reached at 932-8760 or matt.dees@newsobserver.com.
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