Alive After 5 brings music and more to downtown streets

Published 7:23 pm Tuesday, August 20, 2019

A new downtown event is bringing back elements of Music in the Streets and adding a dash of Greenville’s Umbrella Market to the mix.

Alive After 5 launches Sept. 6. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., friends, co-workers, families, are invited to the Caboose Park at the corner of West Main and Gladden streets for music, beverages, lawn games, shopping and more.

“It’s an opportunity for people to come hang out after work, bring their kids, have a drink and enjoy the waterfront,” said Erin Ruyle, Washington Tourism Development Authority executive director. “It’s cool; it’s free; we’ll have activities for kids, adult beverages. … It’s basically Music in the Streets on a smaller scale, combined with the Umbrella Market.”

Alive After 5 will be held in September, October and November, then again in March, April and May — taking breaks during the hotter and colder months of the year. The first Alive After 5’s entertainment for the young ones includes free face painting and digging for shark teeth, courtesy of Aurora Fossil Museum. For adults, there will be local vendors, beer and wine for sale and Victor Hudson on guitar and vocals, Ruyle said.

WTDA came up with Alive After 5 as an opportunity to invite people downtown, and hopefully stay downtown for dinner and shopping. While Alive After 5 will feature a food truck for each occasion, the food truck will always be something that doesn’t compete with downtown merchants, Ruyle said. Taco Express is slated for the Sept. 6 launch.

Assisting with Alive After 5 are the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Harbor District Alliance.

“The idea is for people to head downtown to a fun, community event,” said Robin McKeithan, WBCCC assistant director.

“Bring your lawn chair, come hang out and relax from 5:30 to 7:30,” Ruyle said.