On Thursday, it’s time to shop, play, work, live – and celebrate.
The Davis Chamber of Commerce will celebrate local businesses at the sixth annual Celebrate Davis! festival starting at 4:30 p.m. at Community Park, located at 14th and F Streets.
A fireworks show starts at 9 p.m., sponsored by the Sutter Health Group and will end the festival.
Around 8,000 people are expected to enjoy their Thursday afternoon and evening checking out roughly 100 booths. Davis Chamber of Commerce executive director Christi Skibbins said the Chamber is expecting a big crowd at Community Park.
“This year we are expecting more people [than previous years],” Skibbins said. “Because people are looking for something local, with free admission and something fun.“
With 15 different food vendors and many city shops and service booths, such as booths from the City of Davis and the Davis Police Department, the festival is an event catered to all Davis residents – students and families alike. Free valet bike parking is more of an incentive to bike to the event.
Along with booths, food and fireworks there will be live entertainment, including the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! and two local bands Cold Shot and Music Matt.
Music Matt, a Davis musician and educator, will be at the festival with his band, The Whole 9 Yards. They have been playing at Celebrate Davis! since the festival started six years ago.
“We do high energy, interactive songs,” Music Matt said. “College students have a good time.“
This year, Celebrate Davis! is giving away hundreds of dollars in gift cards. Every participating business has donated a $25 gift card, and a few lucky raffle winners will receive gift cards to a variety of Davis shops and restaurants.
The Downtown Davis Business Association will be at the festival with its own booth and many DDBA members will be in attendance representing the downtown area, said DDBA director Joy Cohan.
“We will be highlighting [the DDBA’s] theme, ‘Be Green, Shop Local‘,” Cohan said. “This is congruent with the Chamber’s theme, ‘Shop Davis‘.“
Skibbins said this type of business exposition is very different compared to other cities, where the local Chamber of Commerce puts on an indoor event, usually during business hours.
“Davis is unique in that we have this great event that is so much fun,” Skibbins said. “It’s fun for the businesses, too.“
SASHA LEKACH can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
