MONROE - The Monroe Police Department has announced the following information regarding Cheese Days, which begins Friday and continues through Sunday.
• The outside lane of the north side of the Square, the outside lane of the east side of the Square, the 900 block of 17th Avenue and the 1700 block of 10th Street closed at 6 a.m. Wednesday in order to facilitate setting up large tents for the event.
• The outside lanes of the west and south sides of the Square, the 1500 block of 10th Street and the 900 block of 16th Avenue will close at 6 a.m. Thursday in order to complete installing tents and other Cheese Days-related facilities in those lanes. Traffic will be able to get up to the southwest and southeast corners of the Square during the business day on Thursday.
• Spring Square parking lot closes at 1 p.m. Thursday. All vehicles must be moved for the carnival to set up on the site.
• All access to the Square and within one block of the Square will be closed after 5 p.m. Thursday.
• The 1500-1600 blocks of 12th Street (15th Avenue to 17th Avenue), will be closed at 5 p.m. Thursday, and will remain closed until 6 p.m. on Sunday. The 1100-1200 blocks of 16th Avenue and 17th Avenue will also close at this time. There will be some access to businesses in the 1700 block of 12th Street, but this will be limited. After the Children's Parade, which starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, the 1700 block of 12th Street will also be closed.
• The Children's Parade will leave from Monroe Middle School at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, traveling north on 16th Avenue to 12th Street by the Suisse Haus, traveling east on 12th Street to 18th Avenue, and then going north on 18th Avenue to 9th Street, and then 9th Street west to 16th Avenue and finally back south on 16th Avenue to the middle school.
• The Square and surrounding area will remain closed until Monday morning when it is expected the outside lanes will be back open for business traffic. The inside lanes of the Square will remain closed until all items are removed.
• On Friday, after 7 a.m., the 1500 block of 12th Street will be used for motorcycle parking for the weekend, along with the parking lot in the 1100 block of 15th Avenue. Immediately after the Children's Parade, the 1200 block of 16th Avenue will also be used for motorcycle parking for the weekend.
• The Arts and Crafts Fair will be held in the middle school area Saturday. The 1600 block of 15th Street will be closed during daytime hours with barricades and 16th Avenue in the area will be posted for no parking and remains open.
• The Farmers Market is expected to be open at the old site at 15th Street and 16th Avenue on Saturday in the area south of the middle school.
• The Cheese Days Chase (5K-10K runs, 2-mile fun run/walk and kid's run) will be held Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. (kid's run) and 9 a.m. (other events) and is again expected to draw large participation. The event begins from the south side of the Square. Police traffic control will be provided on and along the route in the city. All motorists should expect delays on and along the route as police must stop traffic for safety purposes.
• Beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, the municipal lots in the 1600 block of 8th Street and 800 block of 17th Avenue become handicapped parking only, and beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday the Old Armory municipal parking lot becomes a handicapped parking only lot. Just as any of the other handicapped parking lots and spaces, an official handicapped parking permit or plate is required to park there. All other vehicles must be removed before this date and time. These remain in effect until Sunday at 6 p.m.
• Several special no parking zones are effective Sunday in anticipation of the parade and high traffic volumes. Most of these are in and around the fairgrounds area and will be posted.
• The entire Sunday parade route will be posted and must be cleared of all vehicles Sunday morning by 9:30 a.m. The entire route will close at 11:45 a.m. for pre-parade activities. It is expected the parade will be moved onto 10th Street from the fairgrounds to the area of 25th Avenue sometime shortly after noon and be held there for lineup before leaving for the Square area around 12:30 p.m. and arriving on the south side of the Square at 12:45 p.m.
• Vehicles will not be allowed to operate across or on the parade route after 11:45 a.m. Sunday for safety reasons.
• The parade comes from the fairgrounds on 10th Street. At 18th Avenue, by the Wisconsin Bank & Trust, the parade turns south on 18th Avenue, going to 11th Street by the post office, and then turns west on 11th Street, goes across the south side of the Square, north on 16th Avenue to 9th Street, and then east on 9th Street back to the fairgrounds. The parade does not go on the east side of the Square or the north side.
• Large crowds are expected for all weekend events. Traffic and parking congestion will exist. All motorists are reminded to plan ahead and allow extra time during the weekend activities.
• Traffic and parking limitations will grow severe by mid-morning Sunday. Persons coming to the parade must plan to arrive early. By mid-morning, the highways and city streets will be congested and parking availability will be limited. Late arrivals will not find parking anywhere near the parade route or the downtown activities. Special handicapped parking areas have been set up at East School Park; in the Wisconsin Bank & Trust lot; in the First National Bank & Trust lot, in the north municipal parking lot, located on the north side of the Stop-N-Go store, including some van-accessible stalls; and the Old Armory Municipal Lot, at 9th Street and 18th Avenue. The Stop-N-Go area municipal lot will be available all weekend; the rest will only be available Sunday. Vehicles must display an authorized handicapped permit or license plate to park in these areas.
• Due to the nature of this large event and Monroe City Code, no other activities, including vending, other than those sanctioned by Green County Cheese Days Inc. are permitted within those areas granted by permit for the control of the event.
• On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, open plastic containers of beer or wine will be allowed on the cordoned off area as follows: The 900-1200 blocks of 17th Avenue, the 1000-1200 blocks of 16th Avenue, the 1500-1600 blocks of 10th Street, the 1600 block of 11th Street and the 1600 block of 12th Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Persons should watch for signs indicating the allowed area. This area has been expanded from past years.
• Persons should also be aware that outside of the special designated areas, there is no other relaxation of the existing City of Monroe open container ordinances during this event. City code prohibits persons, other than with special permit, from being in possession of any alcohol beverage in any open container while in or upon any public street, sidewalk, alley, public way or area held out for public use. The ordinance will be enforced, and municipal citations of $264 will be issued. The department asks for voluntary compliance and use of caution in this activity, as a little thought could save a person from embarrassment and expense.
• Beginning at 6 a.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Sunday, the ATV/UTV road routes from the fairgrounds to the downtown and from Wisconsin 69 to the downtown will be closed due to the festival. There will be no parking for those vehicles in the downtown area. ATV/UTV riders coming in from the west are encouraged to take the shuttle to downtown from Orchid on 21st Street. From the fairgrounds, it will be better to walk to the downtown, since there will likely be no other parking nearer.
• The outside lane of the north side of the Square, the outside lane of the east side of the Square, the 900 block of 17th Avenue and the 1700 block of 10th Street closed at 6 a.m. Wednesday in order to facilitate setting up large tents for the event.
• The outside lanes of the west and south sides of the Square, the 1500 block of 10th Street and the 900 block of 16th Avenue will close at 6 a.m. Thursday in order to complete installing tents and other Cheese Days-related facilities in those lanes. Traffic will be able to get up to the southwest and southeast corners of the Square during the business day on Thursday.
• Spring Square parking lot closes at 1 p.m. Thursday. All vehicles must be moved for the carnival to set up on the site.
• All access to the Square and within one block of the Square will be closed after 5 p.m. Thursday.
• The 1500-1600 blocks of 12th Street (15th Avenue to 17th Avenue), will be closed at 5 p.m. Thursday, and will remain closed until 6 p.m. on Sunday. The 1100-1200 blocks of 16th Avenue and 17th Avenue will also close at this time. There will be some access to businesses in the 1700 block of 12th Street, but this will be limited. After the Children's Parade, which starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, the 1700 block of 12th Street will also be closed.
• The Children's Parade will leave from Monroe Middle School at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, traveling north on 16th Avenue to 12th Street by the Suisse Haus, traveling east on 12th Street to 18th Avenue, and then going north on 18th Avenue to 9th Street, and then 9th Street west to 16th Avenue and finally back south on 16th Avenue to the middle school.
• The Square and surrounding area will remain closed until Monday morning when it is expected the outside lanes will be back open for business traffic. The inside lanes of the Square will remain closed until all items are removed.
• On Friday, after 7 a.m., the 1500 block of 12th Street will be used for motorcycle parking for the weekend, along with the parking lot in the 1100 block of 15th Avenue. Immediately after the Children's Parade, the 1200 block of 16th Avenue will also be used for motorcycle parking for the weekend.
• The Arts and Crafts Fair will be held in the middle school area Saturday. The 1600 block of 15th Street will be closed during daytime hours with barricades and 16th Avenue in the area will be posted for no parking and remains open.
• The Farmers Market is expected to be open at the old site at 15th Street and 16th Avenue on Saturday in the area south of the middle school.
• The Cheese Days Chase (5K-10K runs, 2-mile fun run/walk and kid's run) will be held Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. (kid's run) and 9 a.m. (other events) and is again expected to draw large participation. The event begins from the south side of the Square. Police traffic control will be provided on and along the route in the city. All motorists should expect delays on and along the route as police must stop traffic for safety purposes.
• Beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, the municipal lots in the 1600 block of 8th Street and 800 block of 17th Avenue become handicapped parking only, and beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday the Old Armory municipal parking lot becomes a handicapped parking only lot. Just as any of the other handicapped parking lots and spaces, an official handicapped parking permit or plate is required to park there. All other vehicles must be removed before this date and time. These remain in effect until Sunday at 6 p.m.
• Several special no parking zones are effective Sunday in anticipation of the parade and high traffic volumes. Most of these are in and around the fairgrounds area and will be posted.
• The entire Sunday parade route will be posted and must be cleared of all vehicles Sunday morning by 9:30 a.m. The entire route will close at 11:45 a.m. for pre-parade activities. It is expected the parade will be moved onto 10th Street from the fairgrounds to the area of 25th Avenue sometime shortly after noon and be held there for lineup before leaving for the Square area around 12:30 p.m. and arriving on the south side of the Square at 12:45 p.m.
• Vehicles will not be allowed to operate across or on the parade route after 11:45 a.m. Sunday for safety reasons.
• The parade comes from the fairgrounds on 10th Street. At 18th Avenue, by the Wisconsin Bank & Trust, the parade turns south on 18th Avenue, going to 11th Street by the post office, and then turns west on 11th Street, goes across the south side of the Square, north on 16th Avenue to 9th Street, and then east on 9th Street back to the fairgrounds. The parade does not go on the east side of the Square or the north side.
• Large crowds are expected for all weekend events. Traffic and parking congestion will exist. All motorists are reminded to plan ahead and allow extra time during the weekend activities.
• Traffic and parking limitations will grow severe by mid-morning Sunday. Persons coming to the parade must plan to arrive early. By mid-morning, the highways and city streets will be congested and parking availability will be limited. Late arrivals will not find parking anywhere near the parade route or the downtown activities. Special handicapped parking areas have been set up at East School Park; in the Wisconsin Bank & Trust lot; in the First National Bank & Trust lot, in the north municipal parking lot, located on the north side of the Stop-N-Go store, including some van-accessible stalls; and the Old Armory Municipal Lot, at 9th Street and 18th Avenue. The Stop-N-Go area municipal lot will be available all weekend; the rest will only be available Sunday. Vehicles must display an authorized handicapped permit or license plate to park in these areas.
• Due to the nature of this large event and Monroe City Code, no other activities, including vending, other than those sanctioned by Green County Cheese Days Inc. are permitted within those areas granted by permit for the control of the event.
• On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, open plastic containers of beer or wine will be allowed on the cordoned off area as follows: The 900-1200 blocks of 17th Avenue, the 1000-1200 blocks of 16th Avenue, the 1500-1600 blocks of 10th Street, the 1600 block of 11th Street and the 1600 block of 12th Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Persons should watch for signs indicating the allowed area. This area has been expanded from past years.
• Persons should also be aware that outside of the special designated areas, there is no other relaxation of the existing City of Monroe open container ordinances during this event. City code prohibits persons, other than with special permit, from being in possession of any alcohol beverage in any open container while in or upon any public street, sidewalk, alley, public way or area held out for public use. The ordinance will be enforced, and municipal citations of $264 will be issued. The department asks for voluntary compliance and use of caution in this activity, as a little thought could save a person from embarrassment and expense.
• Beginning at 6 a.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Sunday, the ATV/UTV road routes from the fairgrounds to the downtown and from Wisconsin 69 to the downtown will be closed due to the festival. There will be no parking for those vehicles in the downtown area. ATV/UTV riders coming in from the west are encouraged to take the shuttle to downtown from Orchid on 21st Street. From the fairgrounds, it will be better to walk to the downtown, since there will likely be no other parking nearer.