Apps, maps and parking info: What you need to know about Queen City Mischief & Magic
#QCMM2024
STAUNTON — Queen City Mischief & Magic 2024 is happening Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 28-29. The official start to the festival every year is Saturday morning to allow city staff time to close down the streets and safely secure the area the evening prior. But you can participate in some activities the Friday before.
Every year, QCMM officially begins when Hogwarts faculty and students arrive at the train station on Saturday, and it ends late Sunday afternoon with the Quidditch Championship Cup.
#QCMM2024 is the hashtag to connect and share your experience on social media.
Photo galleries can be found on the festival's website.
One of the coolest features is the Sched app. You can bookmark your favorite activities, create your own customized schedule, sort by type (activity, attraction, dining, venue), see descriptions, and find out what activities are free or ticket only.
On your smartphone, download the Sched app from the App Store or Google Play.
Search within Sched for Queen City Mischief & Magic 2024.
Sign up or sign in to create an account and access events.
QR codes with lightning bolts will be at the festival to make it even easier for families figuring out where to go when there's so much happening. Scan the code and it'll bring up the festival map and schedule an activity for you.
While some activities are ticketed, the festival is free to attend.
More: Waynesboro YMCA open house, Staunton housing project: THE DIGEST
A portion of the downtown area will be closed to through traffic beginning at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27 and continuing through 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29 for the Queen City Mischief & Magic festival.
A map of the impacted area is available online.
Parking and traffic delays
Parking restrictions on several downtown streets will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday and continue through 7 p.m. Sunday. The parking impact extends beyond the street closures in a few locations to help with traffic flow. Parking will not be allowed on the following streets:
Augusta Street from Johnson to Frederick streets
Byers Street
Beverley Street from Lewis to Market streets
New Street from Johnson to Frederick streets
Market Street from Frederick St. to Hotel 24 South
Lewis Street from Frederick St. to Middlebrook Ave.
Johnson Street from Lewis to Church streets
Central Ave from Frederick to Beverley streets (limited access)
The Wharf parking lot will be closed for the festival, but all other downtown public parking facilities — New Street and Johnson Street parking garages, Hardy and RMA parking lots — will be open to the public on a first come basis. Downtown residents are encouraged to find a convenient location in the public parking facilities, as visitors are being encouraged to park at a satellite location.
The Staunton Police Department has started posting fliers on vehicles parked downtown in advance of the event as a reminder of street closures and parking restrictions. Vehicles located in no-parking zones after 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 will be subject to towing.
More: Virginia Voters Guide: Key races in state, Staunton
Visitors are strongly encouraged to use satellite parking at the site of the former Staunton Mall, 90 Lee Jackson Highway, on Saturday. Shuttles will run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to downtown on Saturday only.
Parking for people with disabilities will be available at City National Bank, 38 N. Central Ave., and at Central United Methodist Church, 14 N. Lewis St.
The city is encouraging everyone to prepare for significant traffic delays and disruptions in and around downtown and to plan travel routes accordingly.
Festival schedule and maps
Follow QCMM on Facebook to stay up-to-date throughout the festival.
Drone usage
During the event, the Staunton Police Department will be utilizing a drone in compliance with FAA guidelines for drone usage by a law enforcement agency.
Shop & Dine Out
Shop and Dine Out in Downtown will be suspended for the weekend of QCMM (Sept. 27 - Sept. 29). It will resume the following weekend, Friday Oct. 4. The 2024 SDOD season will run through October.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Queen City Mischief & Magic: What you need to know
