‘The Song Band,’ Farmers Market this weekend
*** The Wednesday issue of The Advertiser reported that the Shred Truck, sponsored by Cornerstone Investments, would be downtown this week, but it will actually be next Saturday, June 19. The Advertiser apologizes for the error.
Laurens, S.C. – A wide variety of music will fill the Historic Downtown Square Friday evening when Main Street Laurens hosts this month’s Finally Friday featuring The Song Band, and there’s even a new fire 
truck for children to see. Then activities will be followed Saturday morning by the first Downtown Farmers Market of the season.
“The Song Band is based in the Greenville area and the music Friday night starts at 7 and goes to 9 p.m.,” said Main Street Laurens director Jonathan Irick. “They perform music for all different tastes and all different ages, including a lot of dance music.”
Food trucks will be available Friday evening and downtown restaurants are available for eat in or take out.
“With our new pedestrian alley the City of Laurens has opened up this summer, people can buy food from food trucks or restaurants and bring it out to the tables to enjoy the music,” Irick said. “Businesses will be open later hours, The Laurens County Cruisers will be there, Shriners will be selling their pork skins and the Laurens Fire Department is bringing its new pumper fire truck.”
The City of Laurens stage will be removed for a short time since it’s needed for the LDHS graduation, but it’s getting a lot more use with weekend bands sponsored by Palmetto Brothers Dispensary. Irick would even like bands or local musicians to contact him to use the stage during the Saturday morning Downtown Laurens Farmers Market, which is moving to the north side of the Square along Laurens Street.
“We initially started the farmers market on that side of the square, and we are moving back over there to take advantage of the pedestrian area,” Irick said.
Coggins Peaches will have its early peach varieties there Saturday, and several area gardeners have said they have squash and are beginning to get blueberries coming in.
Anyone with extra backyard produce can request a space and use a small card table and sell extra vegetables at no charge, but Irick would also like more larger scale produce vendors and artisan craft booths to fill out a vendor form from the Main Street Laurens website, or call 864-984-2119, or leave a message online at mainstreetlaurens.org.
Musicians can contact him and even use the stage free of charge on Saturday mornings.
Whether it’s evenings or Saturday mornings, the Downtown Square has gained momentum, Irick said.
“We have seen more and more families come out to buy ice cream and milkshakes at the Capitol and use the seating in the pedestrian alley, which is really our goal – to see people coming downtown and making it a destination,” Irick said. “With gas prices higher, you can save gas money, support local businesses and have fun.
