Main Street merchants to be involved in Fourth Friday
From Staff Reports
Main Street merchants are getting on board as the excitement for the Downtown Cedartown Fourth Friday Summer Concert Series continues to build.
Coming up in just a few short weeks, the first event, planned for Friday, June 26, will feature classic cars, food vendors and live music. Taking place at the corner of Main Street and Prior, the event is naturally designed to involve downtown merchants.
Two downtown businesses have already agreed to take part in the festivities. Kiela Beam, owner of Kiela’s Portrait Studio, will offer a “Funny Photo Booth” for the Fourth Friday audience. The booth will be set up inside Kiela’s and
will feature funny dress up items like boas, hats, oversized sunglasses and other whimsical pieces. There is no charge to pose for a photo. Photographs from the photo booth will be available for social sharing via the City of Cedartown’s Facebook page. Those wanting a print of their funny photo can purchase them from Kiela’s Studio.
Another Main Street business, Merle Norman, will extend their hours during the Fourth Friday event. The “Merle Girls,” headed up by store owner Peggy Burgess, welcomes everyone to drop in and check out their merchandise, which includes everything from handbags, to accessories to home décor.
Fourth Friday Committee Organizer Aimee Madden said the invitation for downtown merchants to participate is open to all. “I had a chance to visit with many of our downtown business owners and personally encouraged them to offer extended hours or special sales for all of our Fourth Friday events. We want our historic downtown to benefit from this community-sponsored event.” Madden asks businesses wishing to participate to contact her at 770-7483220, ext. 221. “We would like to know what they want to do, that way, we can really push it and market it for them on Facebook and on our Fourth Friday website.” The June 26 event cranks up at 5 p.m. with a car cruise hosted by the Throttle Jockeys. Romebased singer/songwriter Scott Thompson will warm up the crowd with a 45-minute acoustic set beginning at 7 p.m. Later that evening at 8 p.m., Scarlet Wool will take the stage and perform, closing out the event around 9 p.m. “Everyone should check out FourthFridayCedartown.com.”
“We’ve got artist information, sound and video clips – so you can go check them out before they perform,” Madden said. “Our site also features our wonderful sponsors and links to their Websites. This is not a city-sponsored event. This is only happening because these sponsors stepped up to the plate and donated money and services to make this happen in our town,” she said.
Event sponsors include Beeler Group Agencies and GEO Specialty Chemicals. Partner sponsors include Kimoto Tech, The HON Company, Floyd/ Polk Medical Center, Coosa Valley Credit Union, The Polk County Standard-Journal and WGAA Radio. Supporters include Croker’s Hardware, Madden Consulting, Commissioner Jennifer Hulsey, Coosa Valley Dental Associates, Georgia Power, Bradshaw’s Body Shop and Cedar Hill Senior Living.
Residents can also enjoy a meal or a snack from several vendors. Tim McGinnis, owner of Timbo’s Smokehouse will be set up in the parking between courthouses No. 1 and 2 and will offer slowsmoked barbecue pork and chicken and all the homemade fixings – including mac-andcheese and chocolate cobbler. Concessions for Christ will also be set up and ready to scoop out a summertime staple in the south: snowcones. Dee’s Concessions will also participate in the event and offer typical food truck fare like funnel cakes, polish sausage, hotdogs, burgers and drinks.
“And I hate to even bring this up, but, if the forecast is calling for a large chance rain or thunderstorms, we will make the call to cancel by 12 noon on June 26. We want to give plenty of notice to our residents, performers and our sound crew,” Madden said. In the case of a canceled event, every effort will be made to reschedule as soon as possible and an announcement of the new date will be made via social media, the newspaper and radio.
Fourth Friday goers are encouraged to park in the back lot of the courthouse or in the back of Ed’s Cleaners.