At first glance, the festival taking place Sunday in Syracuse’s Clinton Square seems like many others: It’s a full day of food, drinks and live music in downtown’s premier event space.
But the first CNY Slowdown Moveover Festival also a has a serious side. It’s intended to promote awareness of safety for first responders. In particular, it’s highlighting the state “Move Over Law” that requires drivers to slow down and shift lanes when they see police, fire, ambulance and tow truck operators responding to a call.
The fest was inspired by an incident in February when a local tow truck operator, Irael Martinez, was struck and killed on the Onondaga Lake Parkway by a driver who police say did not move over and was driving under the influence of drugs.
“I was talking about this with a friend and we thought, let’s do something for the first responders, who put themselves in harm’s way to help all of us,” said Mark DiGiorgio, who is organizing the event with partner Tim Spohn. DiGiorgio also organizes other fests like like the Party in the Square held on summer Wednesdays in Clinton Square.
The Moveover fest, which is noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, will include speeches from local safety advocates and officials, and there will be plenty of modern and (and a few antique) emergency vehicles on display. Representatives from the State Police, Syracuse and other police and fire departments, volunteer ambulance companies, tow truck operators and more will be on hand.
Proceeds from the festivals will go to the Samaritan Center, a Syracuse nonprofit agency that helps feed the needy.
On the fun side, food trucks include Elbita’s Cocina and Johnny Gee’s BBQ. There are wine slushie and beer stands, and other vendors.
The music schedule features Devon Lawton and the Inlaws (starting at 12:30 p.m.); The Bomb (2:30 p.m.); the Blacklites (4:30 p.m.) and Dirtroad Ruckus (6:30 p.m.).
Sponsors include the Maguire car dealerships and Humana healthcare.
“It’s a festival, but it’s also here to call attention to something really important,” DiGiorgio said.
Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.