Crabapple Fest won’t happen until Saturday. But the backbone of this popular event – Crabapple Road – will close to traffic one day earlier.

Starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 3, there will be no regular traffic allowed on that road between the Heritage Walk roundabout and Birmingham Highway/Broadwell Road. This will make it easier and safer for vendors and other elements of this popular event to set up. (The fun officially begins, for the public, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 4.)

Crabapple Road should reopen in both directions likely before 10 p.m. that Saturday night.

In the meantime, traffic will detour onto Heritage Walk. That road could have considerable congestion, especially during the actual event between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on October 4. Pedestrians will be crossing it regularly then, including families going back-and-forth to the Kid Zone in City Hall’s parking lot.

Parking – as well as shuttle service – is available in four nearby lots:

• Milton Community Church (12760 Birmingham Highway)
• Crabapple Crossing Elementary School (12775 Birmingham Highway)
• Northwestern Middle School (12805 Birmingham Highway)
• Milton High School (13025 Birmingham Highway)

Free shuttles will go to-and-from these locations and the event drop-off spot at the Crabapple Government Center, which is at the corner of Crabapple and Broadwell roads. (Note: Milton High School’s lot may be busier early that morning with people taking the SAT.)