Owatonna MainStreet Debuts ‘Downtown Thursday’ August 2

After conducting community surveys, interviews, and strategic visioning sessions, Owatonna MainStreet announces the inaugural Downtown Thursday event for August 2. Featuring street vendors, food trucks, artisans and live music, plan to attend from 4-8:30 pm.

A news release from Owatonna MainStreet, part of the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, states, "The goal is to create an event where people stop downtown for food, music, artists, makers and shopping, like Rochester's evening events on Thursdays." The activity was put together in a six-week push.

Invites went out to businesses and artists. Permits were requested to close off North Cedar and use Central Park. The next step is, "inviting the community and employees of our major employers to come down and enjoy a summer evening in early August with friends."

The surveys from earlier this year came back with a call for a vibrant downtown where people hang out with friends outside of work, which generated the idea of a night market. "The event is a component to the 2018 strategy to structure activities, events, desing, and economic development, building on our food business and entertainment."

The live music Thursday, August 2 will begin with OHS Art Splash and Dave Williams and conclude with the "11 at 7 concert series" performance of DeKam and Johnson, an Owatonna-based duet.

More details are available through the MainStreet's Facebook page, Downtown Owatonna.

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