Noisy, smelly generators are bad, mmmkay?
I’ve long thought that Raleigh’s Moore Square is a poor place to hold festivals. The foot traffic, lack of infrastructure, damage to trees, poor sight lines (from the aforementioned trees), and other aspects make it a tough place for large crowds. However, there is one thing that Moore Square offers that Fayetteville Street cannot: silence. Vendors working in Moore Square went about their business without one thing you almost always find in other festival areas: generators. The Moore Square vendors didn’t need generators because Moore Square provides power facilities vendors can plug into.
If Raleigh is to continue having as many street festivals and events downtown as it has so far and if Raleigh continues to position itself as a sustainable city, I believe it should consider installing commercial power outlets along city blocks that most often host events. Fayetteville and Hargett Streets would be a good start, and any other areas that host vendors on a regular basis.
Moore Square has the power
Nixing generators would not only provide a quieter and more pleasant experience for festivalgoers, it would cut down on noxious emissions and showcase Raleigh’s commitment to sustainability. What’s more, eliminating generators would make life just a little more livable for those downtown residents who complain about festival noise. Finally, Raleigh could even brag that the power the festivals use are being offset by the solar panels on municipal buildings! That certainly isn’t the case with generators!
Yes, providing power would probably result in more electrical cables snaking down sidewalks, but that’s a small price to pay for a smarter way to run festivals. I hope the city agrees!