Market Night, ‘Tasty Thursday’ this week
Two downtown Clinton events are on tap this week, beginning with the “Tasty Thursday” food truck rally from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, and the downtown merchants’ Market Night from 5-8 p.m. Saturday.
The food truck event will be held at 425 Eagle Bend Road, in the vacant lot next to the former Real Dry Cleaners building, featuring food by Hamock’s, Waffley Good, and the Kennedy Grill, along with a lemonade stand run by Isaiah House 117 of Anderson County.
“We did the food truck rally last year through the fall, and this year so many people have been asking about it,” said Katherine Birkbeck, director of the Historic Downtown Clinton group, which is sponsoring the rallies.
“So we’re now partnering with Hamock’s to hold the event in the parking lot next to where they will soon be opening their new restaurant, and we will have it this Thursday, as well as Thursday July 25, Aug 1 and Aug. 8. We won’t have one next week because of the [Anderson County] fair.”
The Hamock family announced earlier this year that they would be opening their new Hamock’s Restaurant in the former dry cleaners’ building probably early next year. But they have been setting up tables at local events to sell Darlene Hamock’s locally famous chicken salad and other dishes.
Those will be available at the Tasty Thursday events, starting with this week’s.
On Saturday evening, the Historic Downtown Clinton Merchants Association will hold its annual July Market Night event, with Market Street blocked off for vendors and visitors, and the stores open late with various specials offered.
This event will also feature food trucks along with street vendors, and as with the Tasty Thursday events, there is no admission charge. Free parking is available in the nearby Commerce Street parking lot.
And that’s not all.
Coming Saturday, July 27, will be downtown’s “Christmas in July” event, sponsored by Historic Downtown Clinton from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Market Street.
“Beat the heat this summer with a Christmas celebration,” the organization says on its website. “Even Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in a Hawaiian shirt! Kona Ice will be on hand and participating shops will have gorgeous Christmas displays and previews.”
That will be followed by the Sip of Summerfest event at the Kincaid House from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9.
This is a beer-tasting event. Also sponsored by the Historic Downtown Clinton group, it features area breweries, live music, contests and more.
Tickets for that event are on sale now, and generally run $81.88.