It sounded like a good idea.
The Downtown Merchants Association figured a street fest could kick off summer. So yesterday they blocked off Main Street, hired a Jersey band, brought in street performers, threw in the Oscar’s hot dog cart, added some non-profit booths, and waited for the crowds to come.
They never did.
The folks who were there — primarily young kids — had fun. But numbers were low, and the buzz organizers were hoping for never got beyond a drone.
A clown engages part of the small crowd at the Westport Street Fest.
There were a few problems. On a late May Thursday, nearly every Westporter’s evening is booked solid.
Promotion was spotty — and the target audience unclear. Was it a family event? For young kids only? Did they want high school students, to make it cool? No one knew.
And whoever handled weather messed up big-time.
Greg Sullivan mans Oscar's cart.
The DMA is undaunted. President Bob LaRose hopes for more Street Fests this summer. Once school is out — and the word gets around — and this stupid cold rain leaves — the idea may take off. Main Street could pulse with life on warm, lazy nights.
Here’s another suggestion for putting a pulse into our moribund downtown: Instead of hiring vendors to sell wine and beer on the sidewalk, figure out a way to bring back some of our old funky bars, dance clubs, coffee shops — and maybe a movie theater or two.
Every night could be a Street Fest.
Adam Winikoff, James Manning and Chris Tacopina dream of the day they're 15 feet tall too.
Here is an idea for the Dowtown Merchants Association…Have a street fair on the weekends when adults are not working.
Does anyone remember the Christmas Walks? They were so much fun and I was just a teenager in the early ’60s when they were going on. I don’t think they happened for many years, but everybody just walked around town in the evening, no vehicles allowed on Main Street. Every store had treats like Christmas goodies, punch, egg nog, or a warm drink of some sort. There were horse & buggy rides down Main Street, roasted chestnut vendors, carollers and just a festive atmosphere with everybody walking around talking to each other with big smiles. I have such fond memories of those days!
Wow — I thought I knew Westport! I have never heard of this tradition — it must have ended just a few years before I would have known about it.
THANKS for the info. Anyone else with any memories of this?
How about turning Curran into a movie theater?
With a promenade down to Main Street!