10th anniversary Midnight Madness coming to downtown Bolton

Written By JULIA LLOYD

Are you ready for a night filled with good music, good food and great company?

Midnight Madness 2019 is this Friday (August 9) from 6 p.m. till midnight in the heart of downtown Bolton. Queen St. will be closed for traffic from King St. to Mill St., to allow people to visit as many booths as they can, which will be set up all along the street.

“The initial idea behind Midnight Madness was to support the new faces in the community. It was a twofold event, it was meant to support businesses in the community and also bring the community together,” said Annette Groves, Regional Councillor for Ward 5. 

This year Coun. Groves raised $19,000 through sponsorships to support Friday's event. Midnight Madness has been around in the town for so long that, in 2015, when a decision was made to cancel the event, the community revolted. In 2018 Area Councillor for Ward 5 Tony Rosa and Bolton Community Crew “resurrected” the event for it's 10th anniversary. 

The street will be an outdoor marketplace filled with booths from different local business, local talent will play live music and there is also a kid's zone and a car show, so the whole family can enjoy the event.

Live music will feature Bolton's own Izzy, G-Fad, Ramblin' Soul and the Epic Eagles. The kid's zone will consist of a petting zoo, pony rides, bouncy castle and soapbox derby. A raffle will be held at the Bolton Community Crew Booth and the Diamond Auto Collision will host their annual car show at the Albion Bolton fairgrounds. 

Funds raised at the car show will go towards Caledon Meals on Wheels and both events have been coordinated with shuttle bus available all day to bring people up and down the hill on Queen St. 

Last year, about 7,000 residents came out to participate the event, however, Coun. Groves believes even more people will attend this year's Midnight Madness. 

Coun. Groves also stated that the new all day parking in downtown Bolton would not affect Friday's event. Roads are being closed around 4 p.m., two hours before the start of Midnight Madness.  

“The community really look forward to it because it brings the community together,” said Coun. Groves. “We've been taking my son since he was little and that is what you will find, families come out and it's a nice opportunity for families to come out. Sometimes I even see people who haven't been around town in a long time and so it's just a great event overall.”

The sponsors for this years event are: Panson Electric, Orange Theory, Treasure Hill Homes, Fleetex Transport, the Bolton Business Improvement Area (BIA), the OPP, Markall Road Closure and Dibco Underground Services.