Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, June 15, 2023.
Reprinted with permission and gratitude.
Valley offers an opportunity to socialize and shop. (Picture courtesy of SV EDA website)
Calling out around the world, Are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the streets….” –Martha and the Vandellas
“We have new vendors and new music acts, and this year, the VFW green space will be utilized as a kid-friendly area with activities and vendors geared more towards kids. The fire department and VFW will have the trucks for kids to check out, as well as, hopefully, other opportunities throughout the summer. We will also have a new food truck with Mexican food and ice cream,” stated Tiffany Mundfrom, highlighting who’s going to be in the street on Broadway during Spring Valley’s second annual Wednesdays on Broadway summer market event series slated to begin Wednesday, June 21, and continue one Wednesday of each month through October.
The online declaration of what it’s like to dance in the streets as attendees share that the market series is “Spring Valley’s summer market…with that block party feel!” The Spring Valley Economic Development Authority’s webpage shared, “We invite you to join our community for Wednesdays on Broadway in historic downtown Spring Valley, Minnesota. One night each month, through this summer, Wednesdays on Broadway is inviting local businesses, vendors, community organizations, youth groups, faith communities and more to celebrate what makes Spring Valley the destination for summer night fun – community! Join us downtown on the third Wednesday of the month for a summer market, live music, food vendors, arts and crafts, shopping, and fun for the entire family. This is a free-to-attend event for our community that promises fun for all ages.”
Mundfrom recounted that Wednesdays on Broadway 2022, the first step into the street, went quite well. “We had a fantastic turnout at each event. Everyone seemed very happy to be out socializing, and the vendors had great things to say about the atmosphere of the events. It was very rewarding to have multiple vendors tell me that Wednesdays on Broadway was their favorite market to attend. It’s being able to do a little shopping, supporting our small businesses and farmers’ market vendors for fresh, locally grown produce while keeping in touch with community members in a relaxing and fun environment. I feel like even if people aren’t interested in buying anything at the market, they still enjoy coming downtown to find something to eat and enjoy visiting with people and listening to music.” The 2023 events calendar includes the first Wednesdays market on June 21–featuring live music by Matt and Brenda Stier–followed by the July 19 event with music by Bourbon Stiletto, Clay Fulton appearing onstage on Aug. 16, Luke Hendrickson performing on Sept. 20, and Bob Schlief on Oct. 18. Each evening’s activities begin at 5 p.m. and last until 8 p.m. Mundfrom commented on the vendors that will be at the street fair, saying, “So far, we have about the same number of vendors signed up for the first event as we did last year, although about half are new. I expect, like last year, we will continue to add new vendors. My favorite part is seeing everyone having a good time, and I like providing an opportunity for vendors to showcase their products and services and hopefully gain more customers through the events.”
She concluded by inviting anyone interested in showing at the market to “sign up online at Wednesdays On Broadway – Spring Valley, MN (springvalleyeda.org), or reach out to me, Tiffany Mundfrom, at 507-251-2198.” For more information on events themselves, log onto the Spring Valley Economic Development Authority’s website.
Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325
