SAULT STE. MARIE — You’ll be able to find plenty of great deals downtown on Aug. 1 and 2 during Sault Ste. Marie’s Sidewalk Sales.
Dozens of local businesses and vendors have banded together to help rebuild the two-day Sidewalk Sales event, also called Downtown Days.
Last year was the first time in decades where Sidewalk Sales did not take place. The event has been a Sault tradition for many years, featuring stores and vendors setting up booths and sales items outside on the sidewalk.
Last year’s event didn’t happen because the city didn’t have a director for the Downtown Development Authority to help coordinate it. The city had been without a DDA director for over a year, until the Sault City Commission meeting on Monday, July 21 when Jonathan DeRoo was appointed to the position.
While DeRoo will take part in leading the organizing of events like Sidewalk Sales in the future, this year’s iteration was planned and organized by the downtown businesses themselves.
“We haven’t had a Downtown Development Authority director for almost two years and we’re just trying to bring the Sault back to life. It used to be a huge event every year bringing lots of people downtown,” said Katie Woolcocks, owner of several downtown businesses, including UP North Nutrition. “We have over 800,000 tourists that come to the city every summer and we’re trying to show people that there is a lot of good stuff downtown.”
Sidewalk Sales allows stores the chance to interact directly with Sault residents and visitors in a fun way while also being able to introduce new sales and display their products outdoors. Some nonprofit organizations are also set to participate.
“These types of events are great because it does set you up for success in your business,” said Woolcocks. “We want to be involved in the community as best we can and these events are a great way to showcase ourselves and get to know people. This is really important for our community.”
Sidewalk Sales will take place on Ashmun Street and Portage Avenue. Sales will be going from 12-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2. Ashmun Street traffic will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 2.
There will also be other events taking place during the weekend, including a live musician, yoga demonstrations and more than 30 vendors setting up booths along the sidewalk.
“We’re super excited and just really happy that we’re able to put this on and business owners and community seem receptive to it coming back,” said Woolcocks.
While the Twin Saults Car Show is also taking place on Aug. 2, it is separate from the Muscle Car Show, which will be taking place downtown as part of the Downtown Days festivities.
More information can be found on the Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau website.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Downtown Sault comes together to revive Sidewalk Sales, Downtown Days fun
Reporting by Brendan Wiesner, Sault Ste. Marie News / The Sault News
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