The upcoming Downtown Market Day in historic Bennettsville is a chance to celebrate spring while supporting local merchants and providing community service.
The event is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 24 with local merchants, restaurants, vendors, food trucks, and music.
This event is a partnership of Main Street Bennettsville, Marlboro Chamber of Commerce, and Pee Dee Coalition.
The rain date is May 1.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Downtown Market Day will kick-off at 10 a.m. with a Survivor and Advocate March, which will start at the corner of South Marlboro and East Main Street. Nefateri Smalls, a survivor of sexual assault, will be the guest speaker.
It is a chance to come together and promote downtown Bennettsville.
The tagline for the event is “Shop small. We’ve got it all!”
Main Street Bennettsville Director Elisabeth McNiel encouraged people to attend the event.
“Come see what’s here,” McNiel said. “You might be surprised at what you will find.”
There will be music spread throughout downtown with multiple DJs in the different areas. Centers for Disease Control recommendations will be followed with masks and social distancing encouraged.
“We are hoping this will be the start of many other events,” said Ed Taner, Marlboro Chamber of Commerce member. “We are hoping it will get people excited about doing different things and bring people into town at other times during the year rather than just the holiday season.”
McNiel added it is being modeled after Small Business Saturday.
Taner pointed out that Small Business Saturday has grown since 2019.
It grew more in 2020 with the collaboration of the Chamber and Main Street Bennettsville along with Bennettsville’s Tourism, Parks and Recreation Department.
COVID has restricted a lot of what they wanted to do.
This is a merchant-driven event that will promote brick-and-mortar businesses along with street vendors.
The area from Broad Street and Main in front of the Courthouse, to Clyde Street and Main will be blocked off.
McNiel said it allows people to be spread out and not be on top of each other.
The deadline for vendors is April 9. The cost is $50 for food vendors and $25 for merchandise vendors.
McNiel added they are trying to keep the vendors diversified. For instance, they don’t want five jewelry vendors.
“We are trying not to compete with the brick-and-mortar businesses but enhance,” she said.
Taner said it is the same with food vendors. They are trying to get food trucks that don’t compete with local restaurants.
For more information or a vendor application, call Main Street Bennettsville at 843-479-3941 or the Marlboro Chamber of Commerce at 843-535-8184.