ESTEVAN - Estevan’s Downtown Business Association has a number of events planned for the city this spring and summer.
Night markets will return for the second straight year. Located in the parking lot behind the RBC Bank, local vendors will be bringing their products for the public to view. Food trucks and live music were also part of last year’s markets.
The first market will be in June, which is about a month later than last year. The last market will be in the middle of September, which is also one month later than 2021.
“We had a really good response last year to it, and people were excited and asking if we were bringing it back, so we decided to do it. It’s something that gets people downtown,” said DBA chairperson Laurel Buck.
Breanne Van De Woestyne has been hired as the markets’ co-ordinator.
“It’ll be interesting to see if Breanne puts her own spin on things, but for the most part, I think we’ll keep it about the same,” said Buck.
Buck pointed out that with the downtown revitalization efforts that are underway, the night markets fit nicely.
A street dance will be happening on July 23 or 30. Last year it was held in July as a way of celebrating the end of initial public health restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several bands provided live music.
“Last year everybody had such a good time, including the committee, so we’re really excited about the street dance again,” said Buck.
Josh LeBlanc is once again arranging the street dance and is already looking for bands and entertainment.
Revenues from the street dance allow the DBA to have a co-ordinator for the market and possibly have someone for all of the events. And they get to make the street fair bigger.
The street fair is scheduled for Aug. 20. Buck said they haven’t finalized the details yet, but it will be better than before.
Revenues from the street dance also allowed the committee to purchase the garland for the lamp posts and the large gift boxes that were added to downtown Estevan last year at Christmas time.
Buck noted the DBA has been talking about hosting something in honour of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. The event would happen through a partnership with the Rotary Club of Estevan.
The DBA has nine new members this year, with a couple of new businesses and a couple new owners signing up to go along with some existing owners.
“I think it’s because of all the things that we’re doing now. We’re a more active group, and a lot of that is due to the fundraising and we’re able to do more,” said Buck.
