- Moonlight Madness runs Thursday, Aug. 14, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Main Street.
- The free event includes sidewalk sales, family activities, and live performances, all organized by the Village of Stouffville Advisory Committee.
- VSAC will also feature its “I Heart Main Street” campaign to promote community pride and support for local businesses.
- The evening coincides with the Town’s Patio Series concert featuring The British Invasion, taking place at 7:30 p.m. in Civic Square.
- Local restaurants will be offering food and drink specials inside.
- Children’s entertainment includes balloon and caricature artists, face painting, and stilt walkers.
- Main Street will remain open to vehicle traffic.
Stouffville residents are invited to support local businesses and rediscover the downtown during Moonlight Madness, a community celebration returning Thursday, Aug. 14.
Running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the event will take over Main Street between Albert and Pine streets, showcasing local shops, restaurants, and artisans alongside live music and family-friendly activities.
Organized by the Village of Stouffville Advisory Committee (VSAC), the evening is free to attend and open to all ages. It is funded entirely through the Main Street special tax levy, which is paid exclusively by Village businesses.
Sidewalk sales will line the street, with Village merchants and Stouffville-area artists offering everything from handmade goods to local services. VSAC has also planned free entertainment for children, including balloon and caricature artists, face painting, and stilt walkers.
“We’re trying to keep it as Stouffville centric as possible, and we want to make sure that businesses within the Village area have priority to put out whatever they wish to display,” said Madison Kennedy, a Town Economic Development and Tourism Officer who works alongside VSAC. “While some businesses may not think they are a good fit for the event, they have offered space in front of their building to have a local artisan come and display their artwork.”
For Redefined Finds owner and VSAC member Alison Jackson, Moonlight Madness is a fun and effective way for residents to support downtown Stouffville.
“Supporting and promoting local helps the community to continue to provide services, shops, and restaurants right here in town,” Jackson said in comments to Bullet Point News. “The more people that support and shop local, the more vibrant the town will be.”
VSAC will also feature its “I Heart Main Street” campaign throughout the evening, distributing custom stickers to promote community pride and shopping local.
The event also coincides with the Town’s ongoing Patio Series, which will feature a free outdoor concert by The British Invasion at Civic Square beginning at 7:30 p.m. The group performs classic British hits, primarily from the 1960s, and seating is first come, first served.
“We want Moonlight Madness to bring a festival vibe to Main Street,” Kennedy said. “This is sort of a pilot to see if the sidewalk sale can work well with the Patio Series, and whether it can bring more people down and encourage them to shop.”
Additional live performances are planned throughout the downtown, including sets by local musicians at Moto Cafe and the Fickle Pickle. Several Main Street restaurants will offer exclusive food and drink specials inside their establishments. While some may set up outdoor displays, no external food vendors will be on-site.
“We didn’t want to create any competition for downtown restaurants,” Kennedy told us. “VSAC wants it to be a way to support each other, and have the community support Village businesses together.”
“We are so excited to welcome back Moonlight Madness,” Jackson said. “The street comes alive with energy, and it brings the community together for an opportunity to showcase downtown merchants, restaurants, and all that there is to offer in the Village.
“Redefined Finds is going to be 10 years old in February due to the continued support of the local community,” she added. “We thrive on this type of activity in Stouffville.”
