BY: RACHEL SMITH

Thursdays on Main.  A novel concept, really; live music, vendors lining our beautiful Main Street, entertainment for kids, food and drinks.

What more could a person want, really?

The summer fun kicks off tonight in downtown Clear Lake.  The sounds of Rock-N-Soul Revue floating through the streets from 7-9pm.  Kids’ peals of laughter will ring through the park as they jump and jump and jump on the bounce houses.  The special entertainment, starting at 6:30pm on the corner of 3rd & Main is Dancin’ with Roxie, showcasing their many talents as they groove to the music.

But what you don’t see while you enjoy the fun of Thursdays on Main, are the silent partners who’ve sponsored this event, making it possible year after year.

This year in particular, I want to highlight the people who’ve really stepped in to ensure this event continues to run.  Over the years, the support from sponsors has slowly tapered off, making it harder and harder to continue booking great bands and other activities.  The businesses below have either upped their sponsorship this year, or are a new sponsor for the event.

A GREAT big shout out to our Presenting Sponsor for 2019:  Rookies, Sevens & Tap’d.  Be sure to stop by and grab a drink at one of these fabulous Main Street locations while you peruse the fun on Thursday nights!

When McKesson found out we were hurting for sponsorships this year, they upped theirs from a Bronze status to Silver.  We appreciate the gesture, and the support, more than you can imagine!

Earlier this year, we explained via social media that the Movie in the Park would only be on sporadic weekends this year due to low sponsorships.  While you may think we can rent a movie from Red Box and play it, we cannot.  It’s called Piracy and is actually punishable by law.

Yikes!

Thank you to Drive Wise and Shoreline Dock & Hoist for stepping up so we could add an additional Movie this year.

Children have an incredible fascination with bounce houses.  They’re like a moth to a flame, pulling and nagging their parents to stand in line as they bounce again, and again, and again.  A special shout out to Celebrations Party Store Rental, Charlie Brown Daycare and Preschool, Sunset Sharky’s and Hy-Vee West for pulling through this year to make sure Thursdays on Main is a blast for children, too!

Our new sponsors, who’ve given at the Bronze level, for 2019 are the following:

Amadita Shaffer

Don’s Body Shop

Hy-Vee West

Ritz Rings & Things

Roaring Lion Antiques

A special round of applause for these rockstars!  Thank you for stepping up!!

And finally, to Dean Snyder Construction.  I’m almost at a loss for words, because Thank You just doesn’t seem like enough.  When Trish put out a final email in desperation to get sponsors, they came through above and beyond what anyone at the Chamber could have expected, sponsoring the stage.  Their generosity and belief in this community and what we could be is unending, and for that we are so very grateful.

Wow.  Just wow.  That’s a whole lot of people who upped their game from previous years to help make Thursdays on Main possible.  We, at the Chamber, simply cannot thank each of you enough for going ab0ve and beyond.

It’s time to sail into the weekend, folks.  See ya tonight at the Lake!