Hit the Beach on Broad
Broad Street will close today for a block party featuring Curiosity Shoppe.
There are very few times during the year where Broad Street will shut down to host one of the biggest parties in Rome.
This weekend, the 200, 300 and 400 blocks of Broad Street will close to traffic as locals from all over Floyd County come out to enjoy live music and food during Beach on Broad.
In previous years, it would be the first Friday of the summer months, however this year the city of Rome has changed things up a bit by throwing a themed Saturday block party every month through September. Beach on Broad will be the third Downtown Rome Saturday event this year and will offer a fun evening out for the whole family.
Broad Street will close to traffic at 4:30 p.m., allowing locals to mingle, set up lawn chairs, and grab some dinner before Calhoun-based band Curiosity Shoppe take the stage at 7 p.m.
The band will put on a free concert at Fourth Avenue and Broad Street, near Jefferson’s.
Founded in 1992, Curiosity Shoppe incorporates a fusion of modern rock, new wave, funk and alternative music into their performances, according to bass player Patrick Cash. The band has a collection of originals and also performs a variety of covers from Prince to U2. They last played at a downtown block party in October of 2014, and remain a staple at Rome City Brewing Co. where they performed on Cinco de Mayo this year, Cash said.
After 5 p.m., alcohol purchased at restaurants within the closed 200, 300 and 400 blocks, can be taken into the street by those wearing a special armband. Absolutely no outside coolers or alcoholic drinks are allowed into the festival. There will also be large inflatables for kids with the cost depending on the attraction.
Beach on Broad is fully funded by the Business Improvement District which encompasses all business and property owners downtown. The first downtown Saturday event featured an art walk honoring Ellen Axson Wilson, former First Lady and resident of Rome, an international street festival that celebrated Rome’s diversity, and kicked off the Keys to Rome project. The second downtown Saturday kicked off the Rome Shakespeare Festival on the Town Green.
Future Downtown Rome Saturdays will include another free concert featuring Babe’s Bayou Band on the Town Green on Aug. 5 and a free movie also on the Town Green on Sept. 2.