Festival street closures and parking restrictions

    The Coal City Police Department has announced the following street closures and parking restrictions for Octoberfest activities on Saturday, Ot. 7.
    Due to the increasing number of people attending the festival each year, the village of Coal City and the police department have once again agreed to close South Broadway to all vehicle traffic from Gordon Avenue south to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad crossing. The closure will be effective from 8 a.m. until all necessary cleanup has been completed.  
    Additionally, Church Street will be closed for one half block from Broadway east to the north-south alley and Gordon Avenue will be inaccessible to vehicles from Broadway west to the alley.
    Center Street west of Broadway to South Mazon Street be closed for kids activities.
    Beginning at 1 p.m. Gordon Avenue to DeWitt Place and Center Street east to the middle school  will be closed for the parade. South Kankakee Street will remain open. Additionally, South Broadway from the railroad crossing to Walnut Street will be shut down prior to the start of the 3 p.m. parade that will travel south along Broadway from Center Street to Walnut Street.
    No parking will be permitted on the east and west sides of South Broadway from Gordon Avenue to the BNSF tracks.  The grass parking lot between Campbell Memorial Park and South Mazon Street will be open with designated entrances and exits.
    No parking rules will take effect at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23 and will be marked.
    In addition, the parking lot at the village hall and police department will be closed from 8 a.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m.
    Parking will be available on all side streets, with the exception of those noted. Vehicles parked in restricted zones will be towed away at the owners expense. Handicap parking will be available at Cardinal Transport, 85 S. Broadway.
    Additionally, Best reminds festival attendees that alcohol can not be consumed on village streets. Violators will be cited.
    Those parking on side streets are asked to pull completely off the roadway.
    Village officials and event organizers also remind those planning to attending Octoberfest that for   safety reasons no bikes, skateboards or scooters are allowed within the festival area and no animals, except service animals, are welcome.