Art festival, comic book store work together to hold events during same weekend

Scheduling issues resolved days before events

SANFORD, Fla. – A Sanford comic book store and a local art festival are working cooperatively to host events in the downtown area during the same weekend, officials with the city of Sanford told News 6.

News 6 first reported on the story of the scheduling issues last week

Brian Gaither, the store manager of Smash Comics, said he is preparing for what will be a busy day at the store when they hold a Free Comic Book Day event on Saturday.

"Besides just promotion of new people, it's also a really big sales day," Gaither said.

But Gaither said it almost didn't happen. He said a miscommunication with the city and the St. Johns River Festival of the Arts could have canceled the event.

"We were told one thing, but apparently there's another procedure. The St. Johns Riverwalk people were told one thing and they had permits to use the courtyard, which we already got permission to use, and it just turned into a whole big mess," Gaither said.

That's when Gaither said News 6 got results.

"If the community hadn't rallied, if you guys hadn't run the story, we wouldn't have had an event," Gaither said.

He said canceling the event would have been bad for business.

"It would have been pretty devastating. Free Comic Book Day is probably the biggest day of the year for any comic book shop," Gaither said.

Gaither is hosting the event inside the store and in the alley behind the business.

City officials said they worked with Gaither to get the permits, pay the fees and obtain insurance. City leaders said Smash Comics and the arts festival worked peacefully and cooperatively to make sure both events can coexist and be successful.

"I think this whole thing kind of shows the city really does care about the people and its residents and its businesses and just wants what's best for everybody," Gaither said.

Residents agree, saying comic books and art are a win for downtown Sanford.

"It's good for the economy, good for the community, that way we can bring everyone together," resident Shannon Silva said.

Organizers with the arts festival said they are glad Smash Comics got its permits and they support downtown businesses.

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Smash Comics, which is located at 228 East 1st Street in Sanford. 

The St. Johns River Festival of the Arts is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Sanford.,


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