MONTICELLO – The third annual Monticello Marketplace “SpringSpectacular,” which is set for Saturday, is back in its familiartime slot.

Last year’s Spring Spectacular was moved to May to coincide withthe Atwood Music Festival and drew in more than 2,000 shoppers.

However, that number was down from previous events as thefestival drew attention away from the activities on Broad Street.Therefore, the Spring Spectacular has returned to its previousdate, said Gay McElroy, an event organizer.

The Spring Spectacular will close Broad Street from the LawrenceCounty Civic Center to the courthouse Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3p.m. as more than 50 vendors take to the street to offer theirwares. Returning vendors will offer woodwork, plants, jewelry,T-shirts and garden art, among others.

“Of course, we have a lot of food this year, too,” McElroysaid.

New this year are booths where customers can stuff and buildtheir own teddy bears or purchase custom-designed airbrushT-shirts.

A highlight of this year’s event is the return of the popularMonticello Exchange Club Gumbo Cook-off. Guests can sample fromeach contestant and purchase a cup of their favorite gumbo, whichalso lodges a vote for that contestant.

Breanna Hearn will entertain the crowd at noon followed by DougDuncan at 1 p.m. The microphone will be open to all throughout theday.