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Date: 5/20/2016
SPRINGFIELD – As part of its continuing effort to bring positive events and interest in the city’s downtown, the Springfield Business Improvement District (BID) recently announced a new pop-up summer courtyard series.
Teaming with Springfield’s own craft brewing company, the BID will host White Lion Wednesdays, an outdoor beer garden to three rotating sites near the Main Street corridor throughout the summer.
White Lion Wednesdays will kick off June 15 from 4 to 8 p.m.
“The BID’s mission is to offer as much programming as we can and increase opportunities to showcase what Springfield’s downtown has to offer,” Springfield BID Executive Director Chris Russell said. “White Lion Wednesdays will offer a very casual atmosphere with food, music, and of course, good beer. It will be a great gathering spot for people after work.”
Each Wednesday the alfresco beer garden will take place at either One Financial Plaza, Tower Square Park or Market Street by the Market Place Shops.
“We wanted to choose locations with visibility and good foot traffic. These venues lend themselves to this kind of event,” Russell said. “We didn’t want to do it in just one spot. If you do that, it begins to get stagnant.”
Live musical acts will vary, featuring primarily soloists and duets. Peter Newland of the rock band FAT will perform on the first night.
The plan is to continue the events for 10 weeks, but Russell said he hopes to be able to expand the schedule and add more dates moving forward.
Russell added White Lion and its president Ray Berry were very excited to be involved in the development of the moving beer garden concept.
“We’re very excited to be working with them again. After all, White Lion is Springfield’s beer,” Russell said. “[Berry] has been a great partner in events we’ve had, especially fundraisers. We’re very happy to partner with them and look forward to continuing to do so in the future.”
Northwestern Mutual and Peoples United Bank are sponsors of White Lion Wednesdays.
The Springfield BID will also begin offering a farmers market in Tower Square Park on Fridays, offering local produce, specialty foods and crafts.
The first farmers market will take place June 3 and will continue through Oct. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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