Article by Jen Stults
Montpelier residents and visitors gathered downtown Friday, June 28th, for the first of hopefully many Main Street Friday Nights. According to the Shop Montpelier Indiana page on Facebook, “Main Street Fridays will be summer events designed to bring the community to Main Street for shopping, music, food, entertainment, and an opportunity to support local businesses.”
The evening lived up to the hype with many local businesses and people working together to provide entertainment, special sales events, and food, such a popcorn at Neff Realty. Participating businesses remained open late to accommodate the crowds. In addition to businesses, some local organizations set up booths or displays, as well, such as the Montpelier Community Pantry. The Jamboree Committee was there taking orders for Jamboree t-shirts, also.
The event began at 5 p.m. with a Sip & Shop shop-hop in which participants can visit local businesses to get their cards signed for entry to a giveaway. Businesses from Portland, Dunkirk, Bluffton, Montpelier, and Gas City are participating. In Montpelier, the participating businesses are Faith and Frills Boutique, Simply Sweet and Rustic, and Nutrition Café. For more information on the Sip & Shop, stop by a participating business to pick up a card, visit the Shop Montpelier Indiana Facebook page, or contact Ryan Ingram.
The fun continued on Jefferson Street with a lively performance from Showtime Dance Academy students around 6 p.m. Around 7 p.m. Laura Balke, folk, pop, and country singer from Indianapolis, took center stage with her musical talent in the downtown corner park across from the big Indian. Near dusk, crowds wound down with a movie in the park featuring Kung Fu Panda in Gazebo Park on Main Street. The recently relocated gazebo left plenty of open space for movie-goers to set out camping chairs and blankets on the lawn.
Organizers thank all of the folks who came out to support local businesses, those who performed, Chief Snyder for his work with the sound system, and Mayor Neff for providing the use of the movie screen and movie. Also, many thanks to local businesses who participated: Showtime Dance Academy, Nutrition Cafe, Neff Realty, Neff Insurance, The Posey Room, Jamboree Committee, Montpelier Community Food Pantry, Simply Sweet and Rustic, We Seem To Have It All, Faith and Frills Boutique, and Dillinger Antiques. What a great kick-off for what will hopefully become a new Montpelier tradition. Remember to keep supporting small businesses in Montpelier – shop local!
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