Council OKs return of Morels and Microbrews

Beks owner Garry Vaught — representing the Fulton Brick District — talks Tuesday to the Fulton City Council about Morels and Microbrews in the council chambers at City Hall. The council voted 7-1 to approve scheduling the popular event — which was canceled last year due to COVID-19 — on May 1.
Beks owner Garry Vaught — representing the Fulton Brick District — talks Tuesday to the Fulton City Council about Morels and Microbrews in the council chambers at City Hall. The council voted 7-1 to approve scheduling the popular event — which was canceled last year due to COVID-19 — on May 1.

The popular Morels and Microbrews is back but in a scaled-down version.

The Fulton City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday to allow the return of the annual event to downtown Fulton this year.

Morels and Microbrews was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Beks owner Garry Vaught - speaking on behalf of the Fulton Brick District - made the pitch to council members Tuesday to schedule the event from noon-4 p.m. May 1 on Court Street.

"We didn't want to go another year without it," Vaught told the council. "We had the momentum going."

Morels and Microbrews has typically drawn 2,000-3,000 people in the past, but this year's crowd will be much smaller - by design, Vaught said.

Tickets for the beer sampling will be capped at 600 for the May 1 event, Vaught explained, and can only be bought online. Tickets cost $35 - which includes a commemorative pint-sized glass - and can be purchased at thebrickdistrict.com/morels-microbrews.

"You have to have a ticket - you can't just show up," Vaught said. "The train's already left the station. We've ordered the glasses, and (600 is) what we're going to stick to.

"I think we're going to be sold out in the next two weeks."

Morels and Microbrews will kick off at noon May 1 with fried morels and the opening of food stands. Music will also start at that time, as well as beer tasting.

Music will be provided by The Kay Brothers, The Burney Sisters and MK Ultra.

The event will culminate with a live morel auction at 4 p.m.

"We have people who don't want to have anything to do with the alcohol," Vaught said. "They come for just the morels."

A portion of Court Street will be closed for Morels and Microbrews, starting at the Brick District Playhouse on the north side and stretching to the intersection of Court and Fifth streets on the south.

Fifth Street will also be closed between Court and Nichols streets to accommodate food vendors.

"We're going to spread everybody out," Vaught said. "I don't want to be the guy who starts a pandemic - we're going to do the best we can to keep everybody safe."

In other business Tuesday, council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution authorizing Fulton Mayor Lowe Cannell - on behalf of the city - to execute a contract with the Fulton Housing Authority to provide supplemental police services.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Sebacher recused herself from the vote because she is executive director of the Fulton Housing Authority.

"I think we've developed a very good relationship (with the Housing Authority)," Fulton Police Chief Steve Myers said to the council. "It's been a very successful program over the years."

Council members also approved a request from Sarah Painter - on behalf of Fulton Public Schools - to schedule a Fulton High School senior parade May 21. This will be the second year for the parade, which will begin at 4 p.m. and travel down Court Street.