By: Abigail Woods
University Drive is lined with bumper-to-bumper traffic backing up the length of a football field, a scene that has become a not-so-foreign one in the city of Huntsville. As people bustle around to their many different stops on a Saturday, some only have one destination in mind: the MidCity District.
The new up-and-coming area of MidCity vibrates with a fresh vibe. It’s lively, it’s fun and it offers something for everyone. Located just inside the district off University Drive lies a quaint area called The Camp.
Looking on from the busy street, passersby catch a glimpse of a revolving light up sign. The cylindrical-shaped sign functions as an inviting advertisement to draw people into the area.
“My tag line for The Camp is: come as you are, stay as long as you'd like type situation,” Lindsey Pattillo, executive director of MidCity District Association, said.
Pattillo, an Auburn University graduate with a degree in interior design, started her job in MidCity District in 2017, when the first phase of the area, The Camp, went up. According to her, during that time, The Camp was essentially a food truck parking lot where local vendors would come and set up picnic tables for people of the community to come and enjoy a lunch outside.
“The goal of the camp is to be like this living brochure of what is going to be. So, people come out now and they can eat, drink and shop at the farmers market and have an amazing
coffee, listen to great music. All these things that we eventually want MidCity to be The Camp is, just on a much smaller scale,” Pattillo said.
Pattillo explained her role in the early days of MidCity.
“In 2018, I stood out with a sign in my hands above my head saying “eat lunch here.” You know, it's like you gotta get scrappy,” she said.
Starting out, The Camp did not have personally owned food trucks, their own kitchen or their own staff. Now, four years down the road, The Camp is blossoming with permanent food trucks, a full-time staff, the Green Room Coffee Shop, an internal music booking team, a sound system and, a crowd favorite, the seasonal farmers market.
According to Pattillo, The Camp is “like a good neutral backyard for everybody to be able to come in and hangout and enjoy themselves. It's like the coolest backyard, not stuffy, forget about the day and enjoy the night.”
Just outside of The Camp, visitors are invited to dine at Wahlburger, Kamado Ramen and Kung Fu Tea. Alternatively, shoppers can roam around the area at REI or Trader Joe’s. MidCity also offers a more active experience at High Point Climbing and Top Golf.
Finally, visit Colour Me Mine or Dave & Buster’s for an interactive experience to keep people of all ages entertained.
After studying the yellow, orange, purple and blue paint strokes that make up Asé Selah’s MidCity mural, venture to a performance inside The Orion Amphitheater.
The brand new, 8,000 seat state-of-the-art and world class facility is owned and funded by the city of Huntsville, according to Orion Amphitheater general manager, Ryan Murphy. “Not only will it have all the design, function, form and production to provide the best experience for the artist but also for all the guests, fans and customers who pilgrimage to this venue,” he said.
The $45 million facility leans heavily into a year-round schedule that aims to not just have headliner/major concerts throughout the year, but also host community events, markets, festivals, weddings, corporate events and more.
According to Murphy, “The Orion helps add a major (and unique) venue into the market to attract bands that have never been here before. This elevation of the artist experience and customer experience really fundamentally changes the way that the community, local businesses, local artists and musicians look at this area.”
Here, you’re invited to purchase tickets to watch artists including, but not limited to, Dave Matthews Band, Kenny Chesney, Jack White, the Black Keys, Widespread Panic, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan and Keith Sweat.
You’ll want to come for the performances and stay for the atmosphere.
“‘A rising tide lifts all boats” is something we feel is the perfect way to see what new and exciting programming here will bring to the community,” Murphy said.
So, after a morning at The Camp, lunch at Kamado Ramen, an afternoon at Dave & Busters and a night under the stars at brand new Orion Amphitheater, you’ll be wishing every day could be this good.
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