By Adam Hocking

Editor

MARSHFIELD — On Friday, June 19, the 300 block of South Central Avenue will be sectioned off for the second annual Summer Kickoff Block Party, which is staged by Main Street Marshfield. The event runs from 6-10 p.m. and will give attendees a chance to socialize and partake in games, live music, food, and refreshments.

Musical guest Freak Union will perform starting at 7 p.m., and event-goers may bring lawn chairs if they choose. There will also be a beer garden and a bean bag toss. Prizes for the bean bag toss will include giveaways for drink tickets and Brew Fest tickets. Brew Fest is a craft beer sampling that is part of Marshfield’s Hub City Days in July. There is no admission cost for the Summer Kickoff Block Party.

“We had a pretty good crowd last year, but we’re expecting a lot more for this year,” said Executive Director of Main Street Marshfield Angie Eloranta. She said that last year about 300 people turned out for the event.

Proceeds from the event will go to Main Street Marshfield, which is a non-profit organization that works to promote, assist, and retain downtown businesses as well as recruit new ones to the area.

“People were also looking for more events like Hub City Days, so we decided to do something on a smaller scale,” Eloranta said. She later added, “Really, we just hope to bring everyone together in the downtown, give them something fun to do to reconnect with friends, family, and just build community within our downtown area and also bring awareness to the downtown businesses as well.”

BMO Harris, Evolve Hair Salon LLC, and Badger Title LLC are sponsors for the event. The Marshfield Masonic Lodge will run concessions at the event.

Main Street Marshfield urges shoppers to come out on Third Tuesdays

On the third Tuesday of every month, starting on June 16 and running through September, 34 businesses will stay open until 7 p.m. in the downtown Marshfield area. Along with extended business hours there will be art in storefront windows, artists doing free caricatures, a bounce house in front of Hiller’s True Value Hardware, and live music will be played as pedestrians pass from store to store.

Each participating business will have unique promotions on the Third Tuesday evenings.

“We’re trying to promote shopping within the stores, but we’re also going to do some fun things throughout the downtown too,” Eloranta said.

Pick ‘n Save will also have its farmers market open from 2-7 p.m. on Third Tuesdays.

Visit mainstreetmarshfield.com for more information.