With jam-packed SunRail trains and only paid parking, the 30-minute bike ride from Maitland to the 56th annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival was worth it for Laura Barbero-Buffa and Michael Buffa.
The two were among the dozens that used the enclosed bike valet service on Morse Boulevard Saturday afternoon.
“It really wasn’t that far of a ride and it is very convenient; this [bike valet] makes it convenient and keeps our bikes safe,” said Laura Barbero-Buffa, 33.
The service started three years ago with the City of Winter Park wanting more residents to ride their bicycles. Since then, the bike valet has serviced all major events in the downtown Winter Park area.
“We were looking for ways to encourage more people to ride their bicycles and we figured one way to do that was to provide secure parking in the downtown area,” said Winter Park Public Works employee Butch Margraf. “When you come out with your bicycle somewhere, you want to make sure your seat and wheels are still there when you return, so we provide security.”
Margraf said the service relies on volunteers, so the city partnered with Winter Park High School’s Key Club and has had a lot of success.
“They’ve been a tremendous help with this project,” Margraf said. “I mean these kids really run things when we have an event.”
SunRail also eased traffic for the estimated 350,000 attendees expected go to the festival this weekend by offering free rides Saturday and Sunday. Passengers packed the trains leaving only standing room at times and having to turn away riders at several stops.
But despite the crowded SunRail trains, passengers were pleased with the free service.
“It’s my first time on SunRail, and I came because it was free and I wanted to come to the art festival,” said Ann Simmons, 62, of Lake Mary. “I figured this would be a great way to get to the art festival and not have to deal with all the traffic.”
Simmons, who is originally from New York and is used to NYC subways, said she loves the crowds and is loving the SunRail.
“This is exactly like the subways in New York, except it’s clean,” she said.
She said she now has a reason to not have any self control at the festival and buy as much artwork as she wants since she won’t have to haul everything to her car but just to the train, which runs right through Central Park.
The festival will continue Sunday with trains departing at 9 a.m. out of DeBary and 10:15 out of Sand Lake. Although the last train will leave Winter Park 3:36 p.m. southbound and 4:41 p.m. northbound, SunRail will make sure no one is left behind on the Winter Park platform and will offer additional trains if necessary, according to Steve Olson, spokesman for SunRail.
The sea of art-filled tents fills up Central Park with more than 200 artists on display ranging from painters and photographers to jewelry makers and sculptors.
And food is not in short supply with dozens of food stands and tents. Remember to bring cash to the event if you plan on purchasing anything, art included. The Bank of America ATM on Park Avenue had a long line all day and actually ran out of cash around 2 p.m.
For those who drove to the event, parking was limited but didn’t pose too big of an issue. Drivers paid between $5 and $10 to park in lots and garages surrounding Rollins College.
For Michelle Cortes, 41, it usually takes her about 20 minutes to find parking at the festival. But this year, it only took the Oviedo woman and her family five minutes to find parking.
“We were lucky this year,” Cortes said. “We took one lap around Rollins there was no parking, and someone happened to be leaving and we parked within five minutes. It was a miracle.”
chayes@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5252
And the winners are
Best of Show: Micheal Paul Cole of Hannibal, Mo. for photography “Cicadas Seventh Year Confession.” Prize: $10,000 purchase award and his work will be donated to the City of Winter Park’s Best of Show collection.
Art of Philanthropy Award: Marius Moore of Gulfport, Fla. for photography “For the benefit of all sentient beings.” Prize: $5,000 purchase award funded by the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation.
Award for a Distinguished Work of Art: Robert Farrell of Venice, Fla. for metal artwork “White Shed.” Prize: $2,500 presented by the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.
The other 60 awards include 10 Awards of Excellence at $2,000 each; 20 Awards of Distinction at $1,000 each; 30 Awards of Merit at $500 each.
