The Cotton Pickin’ Kids liven up the sidewalk in front of the Busy Bee Cafe at the 2018 Celebrate Cullman event.

The Cullman Downtown Merchants Association is returning with another street fair Friday after gaining approval from the Cullman City Council Monday.

The event is planned from 5-9 p.m. on the south side of downtown with free carnival rides, live music and other activities free of charge.

The Merchants Association will coincide with the 2nd Fridays event that covers much of the northside district, starting at the Festhalle Market Platz and stretching back close to U.S. 278 downtown.

Mayor Wood Jacobs, who earlier declared a proclamation of an upcoming Family Day and Family Week in Cullman, said the Merchants Association activities fall in line with enjoyable family activities with the carnival and providing a place where residents can enjoy their town.

“This is one of those types of events that fall in line with families enjoy time together,” Jacobs said. “We hope everyone will come out and just enjoy the activities and support of merchants,” Jacobs said.

The Downtown Merchants have also provided space for Mitch Smith Chevrolet, Eckenrod Ford Lincoln, Bill Smith Buick GMC, and Tony Serra Nissan to display a selection of their vehicles throughout the evening.

The Overtones will be performing throughout the evening, as well.

Restaurants on the south side of downtown — All Steak / Brothers, Berkeley Bob’s Coffee House, Busy Bee Cafe, Carlton’s Italian, The Downtown Grill, Grumpy’s Italian Grill, Moe’s BBQ, and 412 Public House will be open and offering various specials through the evening.

In other business, the council approved:

• A request from Andrew Heptinstall of Temple Baptist Church for a special event permit to hold a free family movie night in Depot Park from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on September 29th, 2018.
• A request from Stephanie Wood of Cullman County Human Trafficking Task Force for a special event permit to hold a Human Trafficking Awareness March on the sidewalks around Cullman County Courthouse from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on October 20th, 2018.
• Ordinance No. 2018-40 to rezone property owned by Rusken Packaging, Inc. located at Brantley Avenue from B-2 Business District to M-1 Manufacturing District. This request received a favorable recommendation from the City of Cullman Planning Commission.
• Ordinance No. 2018-41 to rezone property owned by Industrial Development Board located at Industrial Park V from B-2 Business District to M-1 Manufacturing District. This request received a favorable recommendation from the City of Cullman Planning Commission.
• Ordinance No. 2018-42 to rezone property owned by Industrial Development Board located at Brantley Avenue from B-2 Business District to M-1 Manufacturing District. This request received a favorable recommendation from the City of Cullman Planning Commission.
• Ordinance No. 2018-43 to adopt a wastewater sewer ordinance.
• Ordinance No. 2018-44 to annex 950 County Road 702 owned by Nicholas Goble into the city limits of Cullman as R-2 Residential District. This request received a favorable recommendation from the City of Cullman Planning Commission.
• Resolution No. 2018-79 to accept the AFG grant from FEMA for Airpacks and Bottles for the Cullman Fire Department in the amount of $266,991.00 with a local match of $13,349.
• The following board appointments were approved:
• Cherri Drake was re-appointed to the Cullman Planning Commission.
• Jeb Williamson was re-appointed the Medical Clinic Board.
• Bill St. John and Emmett Bloder to the Construction Board of Adjustments.
• Mary Ellen Werner, Don Hewitt and Rita Nelson to the Zoning Board.