Your Backyards and Byways is an AikenBlend.Com feature that blends together the activities of all our diverse neighborhood districts in the #AikenCityLimits. There are sub-categories for Northside, Downtown, Southside, and Westsideof Aiken. Get in the mix and help us share news about your neighborhood. Send an email to Hello@AikenBlend.Com if you want to be a contributor for any of our Your Backyards and Byways neighborhoods.
There is a new #startsomewhere initiative getting underway #downonPark. Every #3rdWeekend Saturday morning, the area from the Farmers Market on Williamsburg Street to the Train Depot on Union Street along Park Avenue will be filled with fun activities. Start off at the Farmers Market for fresh local vegetables and flowers, stop by the new Indie Arts/Vintage Market to meet some new creative entrepreneurs, grab breakfast from a food truck and participate in a skill share class under live oaks, and then head on down to the Train Depot to listen to local bluegrass musicians jam!
The Farmers Market and Bluegrass Jam are long running Saturday morning activities in our downtown area. This weekend, a new initiative kicks off – an Indie Arts/Vintage Market on a spare lot on the corner of Horry and Park Avenue. Local entrepreneurs are setting up shop to network and grow their local businesses. There will be food and creative “brunch and learn” activities each week. Local musicians will be busking to add to the festive atmosphere in this charming part of our downtown.
Katy Lipscomb, owner of Material Things, recently purchased this property, along with an adorable cottage to house the design studio. She says that the vacant lot full of old growth trees including many live oaks on almost a .5 acre of open space is the main reason she purchased the property. The possible uses for this lot are endless in her mind!
Material Things has been in business for 26 years and their design staff visits independent artist and vintage flea markets all over the world. Often times, these markets are incorporated into Farmers Market expansion efforts. With their 3 years experience in their prior location #downonPark, they had the opportunity to brainstorm about the area with local property and business owners, ADDA, the Parkways Task Force, food truck owners, musicians, and residents. This first Indie Arts/Vintage Market is the compilation of all those discussions. They are tackling it as a serious #startsomewhere effort and know that good things take time to develop new champions and grow into their full potential!
The ultimate vision they have, working with many others, is for Saturday mornings #downonPark to grow into a true #ShopLocal promotion that helps new entrepreneurs network and grow, helps with Saturday morning tourism activities on a regular schedule, supports music and arts in downtown Aiken, and creates some new private initiative fun! There are lots of people working on new ideas all over town right now and #3rdWeekend has a real potential to grow and thrive in Downtown Aiken. Some activities mentioned include Sketchwalkers group in the parkways, creating the small business history of the historic properties on Park Avenue, more music in the parkways, clothesline art shows, etc. If you are interested in helping create any activities, call Katy Lipscomb at (803) 643-3701. She can help connect you with others to help you implement your own ideas! #EngageExchangeExcel
The City of Aiken can’t do everything and we shouldn’t expect them to. New initiatives can take advantage of the infrastructure that the City of Aiken has already put in place, but it is up to all of us to supplement and grow our downtown. Go visit #downonPark this weekend and help get #3rdWeekend activities rolling! The Indie Artists and other entrepreneurs will greatly appreciate your support and hopefully come back next month to help #3rdWeekend #downonPark grow to full potential. Hope to see you there!
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