If you’ve been looking for an excuse to spend part of Saturday downtown, this is a pretty good one.
The Downtown Peterborough Business Improvement Area is wrapping up its season of Second Saturday Sidewalk Sales on September 12th, with businesses taking things outside and a full day of shopping, food, music and activities planned throughout the downtown.
But this time around, there’s something new to look forward to.
At 12:30pm, George Street will become a runway for the first-ever George Street Fashion Show, featuring local businesses and local models.
“It’s just a way, it’s a different way to showcase what businesses have to offer without you walking in and browsing, sort of just seeing it live on a model and piecing it together,” DBIA Executive Director Nour Mazloum said.
Participating businesses currently include Wild Rock, Knook & Cranny Vintage, Statement House, Cahills, Hi Ho Silver and T-Elle Boutique, with more expected to be added.
The idea is simple: instead of seeing what local shops have to offer one store at a time, shoppers will get to see it all come together on the street.
And it’s not just the clothing and accessories that are local.
“The models are local,” Mazloum said.
The fashion show is just one part of what will be happening downtown, with the Sidewalk Sale getting underway at 10am.
Businesses will have specials and sales, while food, patios, pop-ups, vendors and artisan markets will add to the atmosphere. There will also be face painting and a photo booth for families to enjoy.
Over on Charlotte Street, the local band Pressure Point will provide the soundtrack for the day.
The young group of friends, who came together while in school, reached out to the DBIA themselves after enjoying the previous sidewalk sales.
“They reached out saying, hey, we love your sidewalk sales. Can we play some music for three hours on Saturday?” Mazloum said.
The answer was an easy yes.
Charlotte Street will be closed between George Street and Aylmer Street to create more room for pedestrians, while George Street will also be closed from Hunter Street to Simcoe Street.
That means more room to walk, browse and take in everything happening around downtown without worrying about traffic through the event area.
Parking is also free, with street parking and downtown lots available. Just don’t try to park in the closed-off sections.
The Sidewalk Sale is part of a larger Second Saturday tradition that has been happening downtown for years. According to Mazloum, local businesses originally came together to create Second Saturday, with the DBIA now helping provide the resources needed to expand the event into the streets.
There will also be a Second Saturday market happening at the Bankers Commons and down on Sherbrooke Street there will be a pop-up with local artisans out front of Avant-Garden.
Come for the shopping. Stay for the food. Check out the local vendors, catch some music, let the kids get their faces painted and, at 12:30pm, see what downtown Peterborough looks like when George Street turns into a runway.
“Just come on down, you know, bring your family, bring your friends, and be ready to have lots of fun,” Mazloum said.
