NORWAY – Organizers of the Norway Arts Festival say they would like to close down Main Street during the day of the festival to increase safety particularly for those participants in wheelchairs and baby strollers.

The arts festival, which is sponsored annually by the Western Maine Art Group and Norway Downtown, is scheduled for July 11 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The festival features the 42nd Annual Sidewalk Art Show, the second largest in the state, and a full day of performances along Norway’s historic Main Street. In addition to the sidewalk sale, the free event includes music, drumming, puppets, juggling, dance and other performances.

“I’m concerned about safety issues,” said Lisa Moore of Harrison, who along with Aranka Matolcsy, executive director of the arts festival, spoke to the Board of Selectmen at its meeting Thursday about the upcoming festival.

The road closure would require Department of Transportation approval since Main Street is a state highway. Festival organizers say the process could take many months to get approval, but selectmen told Moore and Matolcsy they would assist.

“I see no reason not to explore it,” Selectmen Russ Newcomb said.

Town Manager David Holt said he would contact the Dixfield office of DOT.

Police Chief Rob Federico said Main Street has been closed for many years for the annual Christmas parade. “We’ve done it for years and we haven’t had any major problems,” Federico said.

In this case, the street closure would be an all-day event.

The Norway Arts Festival begins on the evening of July 10 when Christopher Glass, president of Maine Preservation, lectures at the Norway Memorial Library beginning at 7 p.m.

More activities are planned for Friday evening followed by Saturday’s sidewalk art sale. At least 100 artists from around New England are expected to exhibit their work, Matolcsy said. More than $6,000 in prizes will be awarded in categories ranging from photography to oil painting.

During Saturday, there will also be a myriad of other activities along Main Street including musicians, storytellers, dance performances, children’s activities, food vendors and more.

The festival’s theme will be Looking Up in Norway, Moore said.

“We’re hoping to get people to look up in Norway,” she said, architecturally, spiritually and in other ways.

“The momentum is just beginning,” Moore said.