Downtown Marion's Third Thursday event off to a great start in 2022

A crowd of about 1,500 people enjoyed the first installment of the 2022 Third Thursday concert series, according to officials from Downtown Marion, Inc.

Manager Allen Wilson said the turnout for the May 19 concert and street festival was "phenomenal" for both the community and local business owners.

"For comparison from last May's first event and this May's event, the businesses doubled to tripled in sales from last year," he said. "That speaks volumes about the growth of our downtown and letting the community know that we do have a thriving and viable downtown. We're very lucky that we had as many come out as we did. We'll keep making them bigger and better and hope for a bigger crowd each time we have it."

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Wilson said mobile food vendors helped to enhance the experience and gave Third Thursday attendees a variety of culinary choices.

"We had two food trucks at the last event and we'll keep having at least two and maybe more," he said. "The local restaurants are very supportive of us having locally-owned food trucks in the DORA (designated outdoor refreshment area) district. That helps to reduce the wait times at those establishments."

Wilson noted that he believes having a designated outdoor refreshment area, or DORA, in downtown Marion contributed positively to the attendance at Third Thursday. The DORA includes the area between Main and Prospect streets and between Center and Church streets.

"The DORA has been a great benefit," he said. "Thankfully, we had Amato's (Wood Fired Pizza at the corner of Center and Prospect streets) open this year. It's been a huge success and with its location and gave us a second location for Third Thursday that really adds to the benefit of the DORA."

Due to many requests from people who regularly attend the event, Wilson said Third Thursday has been expanded, adding two more months to the schedule for 2022.

"Everybody kept asking for a little more, so we've added two extra months to ensure that we can get all of summer and start into fall," he said.

Following is the musical lineup for the rest of the schedule:

June 16 — Left of Center

July 21 — Lucky Penny Sisters

Aug. 18 — Triple Shot

Sept. 15 — Sneaky Pete and the Players

Oct. 20 — Cherry Blonde

Due to the renovation project underway at Founder's Park, Wilson said Downtown Marion, Inc. decided to move the Marion Farmers Market from the park to Center Street. Vendors have been provided space from 143 to 187 W. Center Street along the south side of the roadway, an area from State Street to Charleston Place.

Wilson said he believes that move will be good for both local businesses along Center Street as well as the vendors who participate in the weekly farmers market.

"Our vendors sold out of their plants, baked goods, jellies, etc.," Wilson said. "The merchants along Center Street also saw an uptick in sales during Third Thursday and the farmers market. They're usually not open that late, so it was a bonus for them. All of them stayed open until at least 7 p.m. and some of them stayed open past that because they still had customers, so it was great."

The Marion Farmers Market will continue to run its weekly schedule setting each Thursday through Oct. 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. The standard lineup of fresh produce, flowers, jams, jellies, honey, baked goods, and other locally made products will be available.

Wilson said the market will closed during the week of the Marion County Fair in the first week of July and during the Marion Popcorn Festival in September.

For information about Downtown Marion, Inc. activities or the Marion Farmers Market, contact Wilson at 740-802-7329 or email manager@downtownmarion.com.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter 

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Downtown Marion's Third Thursday event off to a great start in 2022