Brooksville City Nights to draw merchants, residents to Main Street
Under the shady oak trees along Main Street in downtown Brooksville, merchants and residents will gather Saturday evening to kick off the first Brooksville City Nights, a weekly farmers market and social galla.
Herb and Betty Shallcross browse through various stands at the Market on Main Street, which was once a regular event in downtown Brooksville. Brooksville City Lights will debut on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. FILE
Other street markets have graced the downtown cobblestone streets in the past, all with a common vision: to reintroduce the county residents to the beauty and small businesses in their backyard.
Lisa Callea, former owner of the Riding Sun Cafe, has been active in most downtown project,s designed to revitalize and reactivate interest. Brooksville provides the ideal setting, she said, for community gatherings.
Other communities have promoted their own downtowns with weekly events that bring economic impact in terms of boosting their economies and creating jobs. As a business owner in the downtown sector, Callea experienced a dramatic change in her bottom line when the weekly farmers markets ceased.
“You wouldn’t know how much they brought in to the businesses unless you were one of them,” she said.
Introducing a weekly evening event became her newest endeavor. With collaboration from local small business owners, organizations and the community, Brooksville City Nights will debut on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Promoted as a market on Main Street, Brooksville City Nights will combine live music, art, unique foods, and vendors along Main Street. Merchants will remain open for shoppers to browse with restaurants offering full menu items.
Summer Nights, Christmas on Main Street and Fifth & Blues were heavily visited events, inspiring organizers of Brooksville City Nights to push an evening activity, beginning early enough to entice those who want to get out with the family as well as others who enjoy staying out a bit later.
“Saturday will be like a restaurant’s soft opening,” Callea said. As the kinks are worked out, more venders, entertainment and activities will be added to engage every age group, taste and preference.
Organizers plan to start with a sampling of vintage and repurposed art, food items, crafts, and a children’s market where young entrepreneurs can learn how to display their products. Ten young entrepreneurs will be given a complimentary vendor spot each week.
“Why did Walt Disney build Main Street? Because he realized it was a very important part of the community,” Callea said. Activity gathers on Main Street USA, she added, for the parades and street shows.
“We just want to accent what we have naturally.”
For information on vendor opportunities, visit Brooksville City Nights on Facebook or email questions to [email protected].
Email Hernando Today correspondent Kim Dame at [email protected].
