The Monticello Merchants Association will celebrate “SummerDayz” Saturday by closing Broad Street for vendors from 8 a.m. to 4p.m. in the town’s third Monticello Marketplace event.

Broad Street will be closed from the signal light at F.E.Sellers Highway to the courthouse to allow local businesses and avariety of outside vendors to fill the street with “unique shoppingopportunities,” said spokeswoman Gaye McElroy.

Summer Dayz will feature several new highlights over previousMonticello Marketplace offerings, she said.

Supertalk radio personality Nellie Neal, the “Garden Mama,” willanswer questions during a live remote from the grounds of theLawrence County Civic Center from 8 to 10 a.m. to coincide with theevent’s gardening theme. Several area nurseries have pledged to setup booths and sell gardening supplies and plants.

McElroy said she is especially excited about a “Dunk aCandidate” booth on the courthouse lawn. At least 10 countypolitical candidates have volunteered to serve in the dunkingbooth. Politicians will begin getting wet at 10 a.m. and won’t dryoff until the event concludes at 4 p.m.

“I think that will draw in a lot of people,” McElroy said. “Howoften do you get to dunk a political candidate?”

As in previous Monticello Marketplace offerings, the “Family FunZone” will feature inflatables and other activities for the kids,including professional photography.

Live entertainment on the center stage will feature theMonticello Elementary School Chorus, Teresa Davis, 2006 Atwood Idolwinner Breanna Hearn and Beverly Collins.

Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day, McElroy said.Prizes include tickets to the Atwood Music Festival, starring KeithAnderson, Emerson Drive and Brookhaven recording artist ShanePrather, as well as gift cards from Ramey’s and other localbusinesses.