Cheryl Wright hopes a new celebration called AutumnFest that features wine and beer-tasting, snacks, music and even a scarecrow-decorating contest will give people a reason to check out the Historic District of downtown Kent.
AutumnFest runs 4-8 p.m. Sept. 24 at more than 15 businesses in the heart of Kent’s downtown: West Meeker Street, West Gowe Street, First Avenue and Second Avenue.
“We wanted to come up with events to bring people to the downtown area and get more people to shop and know we are here,” said Wright, the event chairwoman and owner of Cheryl’s Unique Boutique, 406 W. Meeker St. “We wanted to make it a fun event that brings people in.”
The free event starts at an information booth at Kherson Park, at the corner of Second Avenue and West Gowe Street. That’s where attendees pick up an invitation, a map of participating businesses, an event passport and a hand stamp if they are at least 21 years old and plan to sample wine or beer.
Many businesses will offer wine tastings along with snacks. Two Kent businesses – Airways Brewing and the Castle Bridge Winery – will offer samples of their beer and vino, respectively, at Titusville Station along West Gowe Street.
Airways Brewing, which just opened last spring in north Kent, has yet to appear at a Kent festival or event.
“This is our first time in Kent so we’re excited to support the (Kent) Downtown Partnership and do something in our own city,” said Alex Dittmar, Airways founder and brewer. “It’s an opportunity to meet local crowds and to introduce ourselves.”
Beer drinkers will get a chance to sample the brewery’s First Class IPA and Jet City ESB.
It’s not just about alcohol, though.
“It will be a taste, not a big glass of wine,” said Barbara Smith, executive director of the Kent Downtown Partnership, one of the sponsors of the event, speaking about the tastings. “Some businesses will offer sparkling cider and other drinks.”
The band 7 Second Delay and performers from the South Side Dance Force of Kent will entertain guests at Kherson Park. Other music groups are scheduled to perform during the festival outside of participating businesses.
AutumnFest has replaced the annual First Avenue Block Party that ran for several years along First Avenue.
“This is kind of taking the place of that,” Wright said. “We wanted to put something together that involves the businesses along Meeker and Gowe streets as well.”
Participating businesses are being asked to decorate scarecrows outside of their stores to go with the AutumnFest theme. Party goers will determine which business has the best scarecrow.
Attendees who get a passport initialed by every business can enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to be used at downtown businesses.
“We want to encourage people to go to all of the places,” Wright said. “We want them to walk around downtown and get to know the shops.”
Smith said business owners wanted a celebration to bring more foot traffic downtown.
“We want to help businesses understand that we can create more buzz and get more people down here,” Smith said.
Other participating businesses include:
Creamery Art Gallery & Frame Shop, Earthworks Gem Design Studio, Edward Jones, Fig & Feather, Intimate Pilates, Lemon Drop Skincare & Massage, Management Accounting Specialists, Inc., NW Electrology, Pat’s Bar & Grill, Perk-Up Place, Petrik Photography, Pottery-fic Studio, Rainy Day Treasures, Titusville Trading Company, Treasures and Vitality Chiropractic.
Volunteers are wanted by the Kent Downtown Partnership to work the information booth and to pour tastes at the participating merchants.
For more information, call the Kent Downtown Partnership at 253-813-6976 or go to www.kentdowntown.org.
If you go
What: AutumnFest 2010
When: 4-8 p.m. Sept. 24
Where: Kent Historic District, downtown Kent
Cost: Free
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