With the hindsight of four years’ worth of work behind me it sounds quite silly, but one of the first things that really made say, “ahh?” was summer theme.
My first official day with Main Street Monroe Inc. was Jan. 4, 2015 — which was the first Monday of the year. Perfect for following the calendar year, but for Main Street it meant I was starting smack dab in the middle of planning season. And I remember raising my eyebrows when the theme was first brought up and summarized at our January Events and Promotions Committee meeting. I have always appreciated events and attended a variety of them. Good events are fun. They give you something to do on a weekend, create a new appreciation and give you an extra excuse to (re)connect with someone. But I never really gave any thought to how events get done — from planning to setting up an actual tent. I have come to truly appreciate anyone who does events; especially volunteers.
There is so much happening behind the scenes. For us, with the summer theme specifically, it is a yearlong process which culminates in the event and unveiling of the carvings. The theme in 2015 was Asquarium. From Nemo to Poseidon, everything was related to being in an aquarium on the square. That idea started to take shape in late summer 2014.
While there is one kickoff event and once the carvings are out, they’re typically good to go, we are constantly evaluating and taking suggestions and ideas on how to improve and create a temporary atmosphere for any and all visitors. I am in awe of the volunteers who had the commitment and creativity to start a summer theme, let alone continue it. This year will be the ninth year that there is a summer theme. It is “Musical Chairs on the Square.” We will have 22 pieces throughout the downtown district starting in June.
And like every year prior, the theme started with a group of dedicated individuals getting together to create. Attending those meetings is one of my favorite parts of this job. Disparate ideas flow and steadily something gains traction. The excitement is genuinely palpable and it ends up being fast paced and deliberate, with a lively discussion as we’re forced to winnow down. Last fall’s initial summer 2019 planning meeting was centered on the question of “What is summer?”
Our answer is that it’s being outside, it’s sitting on the front porch or in the back yard in a (Adirondack) chair, and it’s about catching your favorite band play at an outdoor venue, or, on those good quiet weekday July nights, turning up the tunes a bit louder while you sit in the backyard, which has suddenly become your living room.
One of the four main pillars of Main Street Monroe is Events and Promotions. Our goal is to bring as many people into the historic downtown district so that they can enjoy everything it has to offer. The promise of downtown Monroe is friendly neighborhood shops with top notch customer service, quality items, and owners who strive for both as well as the opportunity to serve you.
We’re counting down the days until people are eating ice cream on the sidewalk, enjoying a cold beverage at an outdoor table, buying gifts, and meeting coworkers at one of our Concerts on the Square or car shows. Nearly all of our events are free to attend; the wine walk, which is a fundraiser for the program, is the exception.
It is a goal to make sure that they are family friendly, and nothing hits that quite like the summer theme. The pieces this year will be painted by local artists and the inspiration will range in generation — artists from the ‘50’s until now. From different genres — rock to country — and artists — think Taylor Swift and Led Zeppelin. Nothing brings a bigger smile than when parents follow their children from one piece to the next. We hope you’ll join us to experience all the fun of “Musical Chairs on the Square.” In fact, we hope you’ll make downtown Monroe your living room this summer.
— Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net.
