Unique Street Party Coming to Hamilton

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Published September 18, 2019 at 10:14 pm

After a long, dusty and loud summer of construction, Locke Street is slowly getting back into shape and to celebrate, the street is putting on a street party.

After a long, dusty and loud summer of construction, Locke Street is slowly getting back into shape and to celebrate, the street is putting on a street party.

Local businesses and the Locke Stree BIA are hosting Eat Well, Be Well this Friday (Sept. 20) evening as a way to celebrate the street’s transformation and to let Hamilton know they’re still open for business.

“[The construction] has been slowly wearing on everybody,” said BIA chair Heidi Vanderkwaak. Every business has seen a financial hit. People have avoided the area.”

Vanderwaak says that one thing that has remained positive throughout the experience is the community’s relationship with their ward councillor, Maureen Wilson, who kept them in the loop and who has championed the street party.

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Don't miss our next Third Friday event "Eat Well. Be Well" on Friday, September 20th from 6pm-9pm (food will be open till 10pm). . The paved area from Hunter to Pine will be a licensed/wristbanded food area where eight of our Locke Street restaurants will have a pop up booth selling small "tastes of Locke St". Tables will be placed in the street for guests to grab a bite and dine al fresco. @collectivebrew will be onsite as well. Restaurants participating are: @theburnttongue, @bruxhouse, @bitten_on_locke, @donutmonsterhamilton, @delirious_burger_co, @naromapizzabar, @mydogscafehamilton, and @breadbar_locke. . There will be a couple of tables set up to sell $2 tickets for patrons to use at the popup booths to make buying your food easier. . There will also be a wellness area on the paved portion of Chatham with dancing, demonstrations that patrons can watch or join in, as well as a raffle! . Musicians will be at the north end of the food area for your entertainment. . And new Locke St art by @hamontdoodles will be presented and available for purchase! . Shops will be open late too! We can’t wait to see you on Locke. #HamOnt

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Excitement is returning to the air, though, as the street gears up for the street party.

“We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Vanderwaak said.

Unfortunately, the Locke Street Festival, one of Hamilton’s longest-running festivals, had to be cancelled because of this year’s construction project and the BIA felt that a family-friendly street party might be an appropriate alternative to the larger festival.

Eat Well, Be Well, Vanderwaak says, is a way for businesses to let people know “we’re still here.”

Eight food businesses from Locke Street will be serving up smaller portions of their food so that attendees can sample more of what the street has to offer and there will be a health and wellness area for those wishing to try some Scottish dancing or catch a Zumba demonstration.

There will be live performances and retail businesses along the street will remain open late.

The food portion of the party — which is licensed — will be located on the northern end of the street, between Hunter and Pine street (or between the Brux House and The Burnt Tongue), wellness activities will be positioned near Tuckett street between Fenian Films and the old Brown Dog Cafe. The party starts at 6 p.m. and runs to 10 p.m.

“[We’re] excited about people gathering and using the street,” Vanderwaak said. “Especially before the cars come back!”

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