Hanceville: Come to the parade, stay to shop!

Hanceville City Council approves special events, talks needs of downtown merchants

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The Hanceville City Council is seen Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)

CULLMAN, Ala. – The Hanceville City Council on Thursday evening approved a slate of upcoming special events around the community and talked about others, culminating in a call for folks to visit the city’s downtown merchants, bring a little money and shop local.

The council approved:

  • The Civitan Club’s Tinsel Trail and Tree Lighting at Veterans Park at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 and Cullman County Christmas Parade at noon Saturday, Dec. 5. The council also voted to give $250 to the club, to help sponsor the events.
  • Hanceville Elementary School Trunk or Treat on Bulldog Lane and Stadium Drive during the school day Friday, Oct. 30. As the street closure could affect access to areas of the multi-school campus, the council authorized Police Chief Bob Long to work with the school to find and implement the best plan for the event. 
  • Bike Night on Bangor Avenue from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 10

 

During the report time, the council discussed this Saturday’s Downtown Merchants Block Party that will accompany the Mud Creek Marching Festival at Hanceville High School’s stadium, and hopefully, draw some of its out-of-town attendees downtown. Long also mentioned the dance that will take place Saturday evening.

Attention was given to the Cullman Area Christmas Open House coming up Nov. 13-15. Hanceville merchants are planning to take part, and some will be giving away gift certificates and other prizes.

Mayor Kenneth Nail encouraged people to come visit downtown Hanceville and do a little shopping during the upcoming events, noting that some of the area’s merchants have been struggling since the COVID shutdown and need the business.

After the meeting, Nail told The Tribune, “I believe a lot of folks who haven’t really shopped in downtown Hanceville in a while will be pleasantly surprised, because there (are) some very unique shops in downtown Hanceville. And because of the COVID, and a lot of folks (are) just staying in and that sort of thing, these shop owners are really going out to try to promote this deal Saturday: the block party.

“I think you’ve got some folks there that has put a lot of money into their business and downtown, and they haven’t seen a whole lot of yield back yet. Everybody tells me, ‘We love what’s going on with downtown; we love it.’ Well, if you love it, you better spend some money down there, because if you don’t, some of these shops are not going to be here.

“For me, that’s what the big promotion is. We’ve got to, we have got to think about spending some money. Don’t always think about just going to the big retailer; you know, the small town store, heck, they need some support, too. 

“So that’s what it’s all about: trying to get folks to come in and just take a fresh look at what’s here. We’ve got some pretty unique items for sale down here that you just won’t find anywhere.”

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W.C. Mann

craig@cullmantribune.com