Current community events and ideas for possible additions to the calendar, as well as on-going promotions for making Belle Plaine a destination were discussed today (Tuesday) at a noon meeting of downtown business people.
The Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation’s promotions committee sponsored the luncheon meeting at the Belle Plaine Museum. More than 40 local residents attended and heard Lon Weber, the out-going chair of the promotions committee discuss what activities have been on the calendar in the past and what might be added in the future.
He told the group that the next promotion will be the very popular Easter egg hunt. Businesses will be contacted to donate prizes for the event, which should draw customers into their businesses that weekend as well.
The “Trunk or Treat” promotion has been a popular event at Halloween time for the past couple of years. Weber said 300-350 kids roamed the downtown district during the event this past year. He said an attempt will be made to lure more rural residents who might not get many trick or treaters at their homes to bring their cars downtown for that event and hand out candy.
There was some discussion at the meeting on whether the Belle Plaine Christmas celebration should remain the first weekend of December or should be moved to another time. Although last year’s event drew many people to the downtown area, it also conflicted with several other events in the city, including the Belle Plaine wrestling tournament and other events.
Some at the meeting wondered if the celebration could be moved to the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with the events scheduled for the afternoon and then blending over to the community concert that night. The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year and there was some thought that if local businesses would be open the Sunday afternoon after Thanksgiving, perhaps some shoppers would stay in town to do some holiday shopping.
The promotions committee is trying to come up with a late summer-early fall promotion in the city. The Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation has decided not to sponsor the Civil War Days this year, do to the large expense and time involved in it. But the committee is attempting to come up with something else to take the place of it.
Weber also told the group that committee members were wondering if the development group should have a role in promoting the city’s July Fourth celebration, perhaps as a co-sponsor with the local civic groups that have been coordinating it for the past few years.
Aside from the community special events, there was considerable discussion on whether Belle Plaine could support a shop featuring antiques or artwork sold on consignment. The mural on the grain bin northeast of the city promotes Belle Plaine as a “historic city.” Although there will be some effort with the streetscape project and Main Street designation to promote that aspect of the city, some wondered if there could be more antique shops in the city.
Weber also said that arts and crafts are popular right now and perhaps downtown businesses could feature and sell local artwork in their stores on consignment.
Brandon Kienitz is the new chair of the promotions committee. Anyone with ideas or suggestions may contact him at BPCDCpromotions@gmail.com