GREAT FALLS — Despite a little rain in the afternoon, the first Downtown Night Market of the summer went off without much trouble on Thursday. The event was hosted by the Downtown Great Falls Association on Central Avenue and featured 15 craft vendors, food, and live music from Joel Corda.
Kellie Pierce, director of operations for the association, said the first night market was planned for earlier this spring, but was snowed out. She had been excited to finally get this one together.
"Last year, we were able to do a few things like this, we had to really spread out and had a lot of precautions in place,” Pierce said. "So obviously, we try and maintain some of that. We learned a lot. So we're still distancing, spreading things out. But it allows for more people to come down and feel safe and just get back into the sense of normalcy."
Luckily, this time it coincided with the Summer Block Party at the Block Restaurant, where Great Falls band Lester’s Mystery Oil performed.
Overall, The Block general manager Mike Hallahan were pleased to see people out and about after a slow 2020.
"I think people are thirsty to get out and do stuff and this gives them kind of that excuse to come out and enjoy downtown Great Falls,” Hallahan said.
(1st REPORT) Great Falls will host a Downtown Night Market on Thurday, June 24, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring local vendors, food, and music.
Destination Downtown Great Falls says: "Enjoy an evening of market vendors, live music by Joel Corda, and good food along Central Ave. Bring the family downtown after work for a relaxing evening, do some shopping and get outside!"
At the same time, there will be a Downtown Summer Block Party at The Block restaurant (#4 5th Street South). It will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event page states: "Brewery tap takeover with Katabatic Brewing Co. Music by Lester's Mystery Oil. This is a family friendly event. No outside food or beverage allowed."
The Downtown Night Market was held in 2018 and 2019, but was canceled last year due to Covid restrictions.
