26 days left to get the most out of summer!
Some call August 'the Sunday of summer'. In just under a month we will be frantically preparing to send our kids back to school and shuttling off the company that came to visit.
But wait! It isn't over quite yet and we have a list of 26 things to do Downtown for each day left of August! Share it with your family and friends.
What's coming UP for DOWNTOWN?
August 6, 2016: at Fraser Financial
Take Part in Street Art
Take part In Street Art is another great event! Bring your inner Banksy, and join us on Saturday, August 6 to paint large pieces of plywood that will later be displayed at Riot on the Roof. We’ll be painting from 11am to 3:30pm, no registration necessary!
August 17th 2016: at Civic Plaza
Lion Bear Fox concert - hosted by Spinners Sound Center
Sponsored by The Downtown Vernon Association
Vancouver’s Lion Bear Fox is three huge voices joined as one, telling the truth through compelling story, honest narrative and unbridled passion. Three men going to war onstage every night to share a message of hope, vulnerability and redemption. Lion Bear Fox is “a musical force of nature”, an “emotional awakening” that’s sure to “be around for a lifetime”.
August 20, 2016: at the Downtown Parkade
Riot on the Roof
The Vernon Public Art Gallery presents the 8th Annual Riot on the Roof! On Saturday, August 20, from 7 p.m to 11 p.m, the Downtown Vernon Parkade will be transformed into an alternative art party, with live music, performance and installation art, dance, and much more!
August 26, 2016: in the 2900 Block Downtown
August Curbside Market
Mark your calendars for the last Curbside Night market of the season! Applications are still being accepted by merchants so if you are interested in participating please contact Hailey (hailey@downtownvernon.com)
September 16, 2016: in Downtown Vernon
Park(ing) Day
What is PARK(ing) Day?
PARK(ing) Day is an annual, worldwide event where artists, activists, and citizens independently (but simultaneously) turn metered parking spots into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public parks and other spaces for people to enjoy. PARK(ing) Day is a non-commercial project, intended to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, unscripted social interactions, generosity and play.
When is PARK(ing) Day? Friday September 16th, 2016. PARK(ing) Day is an annual event that occurs on the third Friday in September.
How do I participate in PARK(ing) Day? The best way to participate in PARK(ing) Day is to design and build a PARK. It’s easy – you don’t need to be an artist, community activist or have any special training to do a PARK. Some examples of things that have taken place in a PARK(ing) space are:
- Park furniture
- Pedal powered smoothies
- Art gallery
- Urban farming display
- Outdoor classroom
- Free bicycle repair shop
- Croquet game
- Picnic area
- Chess board
- Poetry reading
- Finger-painting studio
- Interactive sculpture
Silver bullets of vibrant, walkable downtowns
Street Cafe's
"When someone walks along a street, they’re there for a moment, and then they’re gone. But when they sit down to a meal, they might be there for an hour or more. Because of this, the sidewalk cafe is the single most powerful tool we can use to enhance people’s desire to walk in a place"
According to Steve Mouzon, author of 'Walk Appeal', the sidewalk cafe can be considered the 'turbo charger of walking' and it is both the cause and effect of places that we want to walk! Sidewalk Cafe's aren't ever located in places that we don't want to walk and a sidewalk cafe will thrive as the place increases in appeal. Of all the factors that entice us to walk in a place the strongest one is the presence of other people.
Consider using your sidewalk space for a street cafe, a simple table and a few chairs will do! It creates a wonderful walking experience, a beautiful place for people to sit and enjoy downtown, and encourages people stay longer than a moment.
Are you open after 6 or on Sunday?
People want to spend time downtown! After work, after school, during the evening hours! A comparison of Apparel, Home Décor, Shoe stores, Bookstores, and Gifts/Specialty stores demonstrates the difference in shopping hours between Okanagan communities.
Vernon: 37 Total
Open Late After 6pm - 2 (5%)
Open until 6pm - 6 (16%)
Open Sunday - 7 (19%)
Salmon Arm: 30 Total
Open Late after 6pm - 3 (10%)
Open until 6pm - 6 (20%)
Open Sunday - 6 (20%)
Penticton: 50 Total
Open Late after 6pm - 9 (18%)
Open until 6pm - 11 (22%)
Open Sunday - 15 (30%)
Kelowna: 59 Total
Open Late after 6pm - 12 (20%)
Open until 6pm - 22 (37%)
Open Sunday - 28 (47%)
Benefits of late night shopping to your business include:
- It attracts families and workers outside of their work day
- It provides a good community atmosphere
- Exposes you to a whole new group of clients
- Provides tourists with a place to go in the evening
- Post events- allows people to visit downtown after they have attended an event close by
- With an increase in pubs and restaurants downtown, there is a higher percentage of people that will go and stroll downtown in the evening
- There is likely more foot traffic after business hours for people to come shop then in the early morning
- Allows your customer time at the end of their day to visit your store before it closes
- 70% of all consumer retail spending occurs after 6pm
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Mark your Calendars
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Take Part in Street Art
Fraser Financial
August 6, 2016
11:30am - 3pm
Business After 5
Allen Brooks Nature Center
August 16, 2016
5:00pm-7:00pm
Riot on the Roof
Downtown Parkade
August 20, 2016
7:00pm-11:00pm
Curbside Chat - Tweet Up
Justice Park
September 9, 2016
7:30am-9:00am
Park(ing) Day
Downtown Vernon
September 16, 2016
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Downtown Vernon Association
The Downtown Vernon Association is an energetic and focused business organization representing over 550+ members.
Through programs and services including networking, special events, marketing, infrastructure maintenance, and more, the DVA continues to work at strengthening the economic vitality of Downtown Vernon for its members. |
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