The seventh annual Ladyfest, a music festival that benefits an Island domestic violence prevention program, received Oak Bluffs select board approval Tuesday after co-organizer Kelly Feirtag promised to keep the festival smaller than years past.
Circuit avenue is closed to traffic during Ladyfest, and last year Ms. Feirtag received complaints from business owners about the inconvenience of day-long road closure and festivities.
This year, Ms. Feirtag said the festival will be shorter, start later in the day and take over only part of the busy street. The festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 30.
“We’ve tried everything to make all the other businesses on Circuit happy, but there’s some businesses that will just never support it,” said Ms. Feirtag. “Hopefully this year if we try not to block off their [store] entrances maybe it’ll be better.”
The festival is a benefit for Connect to End Violence, a domestic violence progam and rape crisis center run by Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. Connect provides confidential and free services to people who have survived or been impacted by sexual or domestic violence. The organization raised over $25,000 at last year’s festival.
“I get so many people that come in and say that they plan their trips [to the Island] around it,” said Ms. Feirtag.
Later in Tuesday’s meeting, the select board voted to establish a committee to review stationary peddler licenses, which are required for mobile food vendors. The committee will meet only as needed to allocate licenses to food trucks and other food vendors serving at local events.
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