Discover Downtown returns July 19 with music, vendors, games and more

By Brian Kurzynski

STEVENS POINT — Downtown Stevens Point will come alive again on Saturday, July 19, with the return of the annual Discover Downtown event.

Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the summer celebration of the city’s historic downtown district includes sidewalk sales, live music, street vendors, games, artwork, and visits from the Stevens Point Fire Department and K9 police officers.

“Ultimately, the goal is to help people have fun while getting to know and discovering the downtown,” said Rosalind Kealiher, Rose House Cafe owner and Discover Downtown event chair for the Downtown Stevens Point Business Improvement District Board.

“There’s so much going on here that people don’t always realize,” added Downtown Stevens Point events coordinator Kris Carne. “It’s not just a retail hub—it’s services, restaurants, taverns, art, and music. There’s a plethora of activities going on every week.”

Carne and Kealiher said the event is about both discovery and rediscovery of downtown.

“Downtown has changed a lot over the years,” Carne said. “It ebbs and flows. I see the downtown as the heart of Stevens Point. It’s historic—this is where everything started.”

“It’s a great way for people to not only get to know the brick-and-mortar businesses but also, because we’re having street vendors, there will be other local businesses to learn about,” Kealiher added.

Highlights of the day include sidewalk sales, street shows, the annual book sale at the public library, and vendor booths along Main Street. The farmer’s market will also run as usual. Children’s activities include face painting, henna art, and a coloring contest at Mid-State Technical College’s “Chalk the College” event. Local musicians and belly dancers will perform throughout the day. Derek the Poodle Guy and his dogs will be at the Rose House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra will provide music in the afternoon.

The popular ping pong ball drop is scheduled for noon from the rooftop of Graffiti’s Sports Pub. One thousand colorful balls will be released over the street below.

“Every participating business can write a promotion, a discount, a game, whatever they want to say, on a ball,” Kealiher said. “You pick them up, see what it says, and take it to the business and do whatever the message says. Last year, I did a ring toss game. People would come to play the game and win a prize.”

This year marks the first time the Downtown Stevens Point Business Improvement District is coordinating the event.

“It’s our first year doing it as the BID,” Kealiher said. “We’re trying to keep a lot of events similar to how they’ve been done in the past, figuring out how to make it our own, reevaluate and build on it for next year.”

Carne said organizers have planned with the needs of families in mind.

“We’re trying to make it easy for everyone to attend,” she said. “We’ll have a lactation station, and some of our businesses will have changing stations. Those will all be listed on the Facebook page. So people who may feel like they can only stay for a couple of hours probably can spend a little more time.”

Kealiher encouraged visitors to come early and stay late.

“Rain or shine, people should come,” she said. “If it’s really hot, there are a lot of air-conditioned places that will be open, and plenty of sheltered spots if it rains.”

Organizers say the most up-to-date schedule, along with any last-minute changes or additions, will be posted to the Discover Downtown and Stevens Point Downtown Facebook pages.

“It’s all about meeting the people who own these small, organic businesses,” Kealiher said. “They’re doing what they love and working really hard. This is a chance to appreciate and support them.”