When Cherokee Street pulled the plug on its Cinco de Mayo festival last month, the news went off with a bang. The idea that the neighborhood’s biggest festival was no longer financially viable felt like a big blow.
But behind the scenes, organizers were already working on a different festival—one that they hope will represent a different direction for the South City neighborhood. Instead of events that bring in a big party crowd, they hope to get people engaging with local businesses.
This summer, that means the debut of Common Thread: A Textile Festival. The one-day event on June 27 will feature both makers and sellers specializing in vintage, handmade, and custom clothing, along with tapestry art, knitting, quilting, crochet, and leather goods…