From Frederick A. Kelley,
Chief of Police, Monroe Police Department
A The inside lane of the South Side of the Square, 1600 block of 11th Street, closes after 6:00 AM on Monday, September 12, 2022, for the installation of a stage.
B The remaining inside lanes of the Square, and the parking spaces on the outside lanes of the East and West sides of the Square, close Tuesday, September 13th at 6:00 AM to facilitate large tents being set up.
C The outside lane of the North side of the Square, the outside lane of the East side of the Square, the outside lane of the West side of the Square, the 900 block of 16th Avenue, the 900 block of 17th Avenue, the 1500 block of 10th Street, and the 1700 block of 10th Street, close at 6:00 AM on Wednesday September 14th , in order to facilitate setting up large tents for the event.
D The outside lane of the South side of the Square will close at 6:00 AM on Thursday, September 15th 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.
E Spring Square parking lot closes at 6:00 AM Thursday Sept 15th. All vehicles must be moved for the carnival to set up on the site.
F The 1400 block of 13th Street, between 14th Avenue and 15th Avenue will close at 7:00 AM on Thursday, September 15th, to allow for a large beer garden to be set up.
G All access to the Square, and within one block of the Square, will be closed after 5:00 PM on Thursday September 15th.
H The surface lot formerly known as the ramp at 15th Avenue and 11th Street will close at 6:00 AM on Friday, Sept 16th to begin setting up the Arts & Crafts Fair on this location, and will remain closed until 6:00 PM on Sunday, Sept 18th. This lot can be used for Thursday evening’s activity, but vehicles will have to be moved by 6:00 AM Friday to allow the Arts & Crafts Fair to be set up. Vehicles in this lot after that time will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
I The 1500-1600 blocks of 12th Street (15th Ave to 17th Ave), will be closed at 5:00 PM on Thursday, September 15th, and will remain closed until 6:00 PM on Sunday, Sept 18th. There will be access to parking areas in the 1500 block of 12th Street. 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 on Friday at 5:00 PM, the 1700 block of 12th Street will also be closed.
J The 1200-1300 blocks of 14th Avenue will close at 4:00 PM on Thursday, Sept 15 to allow for the set up of a music venue by the Minhas Brewery. The street will reopen after 6:00 AM on Sunday, Sept 18.
K The Children’s Parade will leave from Middle School at 5:00PM on Friday September 16th, traveling north on 16th Avenue to 12th Street by the Suisse Haus, traveling east on 12th Street to 18th Avenue, then going north on 18th Avenue to 9th Street, then 9th Street west to 16th Avenue, and finally back south on 16th Avenue to Middle School.
L 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.
M On Friday, September 16th, after the Children’s Parade which starts at 5:00 PM de-stages, the parking spaces in the south end of the 1200 block of 16th Avenue will be used for curbside motorcycle parking for the weekend. There will also be motorcycle parking in the Alliant Energy municipal lot, in the 1100 block of 15th Avenue.
N The Arts and Crafts Fair will be held in the parking lot formerly known as the ramp on Friday afternoon/evening after noon, Sept 16, through Sunday, September 18, at 6:00 PM.
Farmer’s 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.
O The Cheese Days Chase, 5K-10K Runs, 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk and Kid’s Race will be held Saturday morning at 8:30 AM (Kid’s Run) and 9:00 AM (the rest) and is again expected to draw very 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/along the route as police must stop traffic for safety purposes.
P Beginning at 6:00 AM on Friday, September 16th, the municipal lots in the 1600 block of 8th Street and 800 block of 17th Avenue, along with the north row of spaces in the Old Armory Lot, at 9th Street/18th Avenue become handicapped parking only. 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 prior to this date/time. These remain in effect until Sunday, September 18th at 6:00 PM.
Q There will be general fee parking provided in the lots near 16th Avenue and 12th Street, and 13th Street. These lots are owned by the School District and likely manned by non-profit school groups. This parking is a first, and is exciting.
R Several special no parking zones and closed streets are effective on Sunday in anticipation of the parade and high traffic volumes. Most of these are in and around the fairgrounds area and will be posted.
S The entire Sunday Parade Route will be posted and must be cleared of all vehicles Sunday morning by 9:30 AM. The entire route will close at 11:45 AM, for pre-parade activities. It is expected the parade will be moved on to 10th Street from the fairgrounds to the area of 25th Avenue sometime in the morning and be held there for line-up before leaving for the square area around 12:30 PM and arriving on the south side of the square at 12:45 PM.
Again, the parade route on Sunday will be shut down for all traffic at 11:45 AM, vehicles will not be allowed to operate across or on the route after that time 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, then turns west on 11th Street, goes across the south side of the Square, north on 16th Avenue to 9th Street, then east on 9th Street back to the Fairgrounds. The parade does not go on the east side of the Square, nor the north side.
Very large crowds are expected once again 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.
** Sunday traffic and parking limitations will grow severe by mid-morning. Persons coming to the parade must plan to arrive early. By mid-morning on Sunday the highways and city streets will be extremely 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, and in the North Municipal Parking Lot, located on the north side of the Stop-N-Go store, including some van accessible stalls. The Stop N Go area municipal lot will be available all weekend, the rest will only be available on Sunday. Vehicles must display an authorized handicapped permit or license plate to park in these areas.
**No items will be allowed to be placed on the public terrace along the parade route until after midnight (12:00 AM), on Sunday, September 18, 2022. This is pursuant to City ordinance, and is due to prior public disorder that was caused. This route will be marked by signs earlier in the week to give a notice reminder. Violation of this ordinance could bring a citation of nearly $200 and possibly loss of abandoned items.
T Due to the nature of this large-scale event and Monroe City Code, no other activities, including vending, sidewalk cafes, streeteries, other than those allowed by Green County Cheese Days, Inc., are permitted within those areas granted by permit for the control of the event.
U On Thursday night through Sunday night, open plastic containers of alcohol will be allowed on closed off downtown areas. On Thursday night from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, for Friday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM, and on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, this will be in areas as follows: the 900-1200 blocks of 17th Avenue, the 900-1200 blocks of 16th Avenue, the 1500-1600 blocks of 10th Street, the 1500-1600 blocks of 11th Street the 1400-1600 blocks of 12th Street, the 1400-1600 blocks of 13th Street, the 1200-1300 blocks of 14th Avenue, the adjacent parking lots to any of those streets, the Spring Square parking lot, the parking lot formerly known as the ramp, and the library parking lots. Persons should watch for signs indicating the allowed area.
**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.
V Beginning at 6:00 AM, on Friday, September 16, and until 6:00 PM on Sunday, September 18, the ATV/UTV Road Routes in the Downtown area will also be closed due to the festival. ATV/UTV riders are encouraged to take the shuttle to the 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.
** Because of recent events nationwide, in order to keep everyone safe and secure, the Police Department will be taking extra safety measures for the event. Everyone’s cooperation and patience will be appreciated to insure a safe and enjoyable weekend.
