The second Finally Friday event was last evening, and it grew in size compared to its debut last month. There were nearly 30 vendors, a live bluegrass band, and plenty of food.
The street party began as an idea from Pete Anderson, the owner of Pareidolia Brewing Company, who envisioned bringing a community block party event to Sebastian similar to those in neighboring cities like Vero Beach. Anderson was open to any location different from the usual Riverview Park setting. After consulting with local businesses, Cleveland Street appeared the ideal venue since it wouldn’t disrupt traffic on major roads like Indian River Drive and was centrally located with 26 other businesses within a short walk. Anderson presented his idea to the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sebastian, and the event was scheduled for the last Friday of each month from April through June.
For now, the event is in a trial phase for three months. After that, the chamber and city officials will evaluate its success and decide whether to continue hosting similar events.
“The city was nice enough to give it a go, to see how a street party would go in Sebastian. We just wanted to put something together and work together to promote local businesses. Although we don’t have a downtown, so to speak, in Sebastian, we thought where the old post office and the old train station are located would be a perfect location to give this a try,” Anderson told Sebastian Daily.
Sebastian Vice Mayor Kelly Dixon and Council members Fred Jones and Chris Nunn also attended.
“This is a great event so far from what I’m seeing, and I love being out here right now,” Sebastian councilman Fred Jones said.
Cheryl Thibault, president of the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, also shared the positive public reaction to the event.
Indian River County Commissioner Laura Moss praised the event for bringing the community together on a Friday night and offering a unique experience similar to events in the City of Vero Beach.
“Come on down, we got a band and food, and it’s highly recommended. There are also a number of booths, so come join us,” Moss told Sebastian Daily.
You could feel the small-town community vibe. Attendees brought chairs and settled in the roadway, enjoying music, food, and each other’s company.
The next “Finally Friday” event will be on June 28, 2024, from 6 pm to 9 pm. Those interested in becoming a vendor should call the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce at 772-589-5969.
