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Centralina Regional Council just handed out its 2024 “Region of Excellence” awards, and surprise, surprise—Albemarle cleaned up. These awards go to people and towns that somehow manage to make life better across nine counties, including Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, and a few others you’ve never heard of.

Albemarle snagged the Cross-Community Collaboration award for “Project Next Step,” a summer program that got kids doing something other than staring at screens. They also won the Local Government Innovation award for a strategic plan that actually makes sense, which is apparently rare.

And for the grand finale, former city manager Michael Ferris took home the James D. Prosser Leadership Award for transforming Albemarle from a fading mill town into a place you might actually want to visit. He retired earlier this year, probably to enjoy life without endless meetings.

“We love giving out trophies,” said Geraldine Gardner, Centralina’s executive director. “It makes us feel like we’re making a difference.”

Young Country Customs and Badin Brews are back at it, turning downtown Albemarle into a lederhosen-laden extravaganza. The infamous Oktoberfest kicks off Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. at 124 S. 1st St., and they’re bringing the works: over 70 vendors, jewelry that screams “festive”, questionable face painting, music you can sort of dance to, and more beer than your Uncle Gary can chug in a weekend. Did we mention the food trucks? Yeah, those too.

In case you had plans to drive through downtown, think again! The city council, along with the powers-that-be at the NCDOT, have given their royal blessing to close down large swaths of downtown from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. so that everyone can enjoy their bratwurst and brews without the pesky annoyance of cars. The shutdown includes:

• First Street, spanning from North to South Streets (no, you can’t just squeeze through)

• Main Street, from Depot to Second Streets (bring your walking shoes, friends)

• That city-owned parking lot right next to Badin Brews (yeah, the one you thought you could still park in)

And if you’re planning to park anywhere near this shindig on Saturday morning, don’t bother. The festival organizers will be sweeping out the lot and the street parking on First Street early, because apparently, you can’t have street vendors and live entertainment and public parking all at the same time. But hey, by 9 p.m., they promise they’ll open the streets back up—so you can return to your regularly scheduled, non-beer-soaked life.