Vilano Beach merchants and Town Center planners announced to local Historic City News reporters that this month’s Sunset Celebration, held on the first Saturday at the Vilano Beach Pier, would feature dozens of market vendors and Town Center businesses.
The free July event, held Saturday, July 7 from 3:00 p.m. until dusk on the Vilano Beach Pier, ushers in summertime beach fun with unique wares and talents of area artisans and musicians. Come by boat, bicycle, vehicle, or on foot to relax and enjoy the camaraderie and sunset overlooking the river.
“Nestled along the inlet and rivers, Vilano Beach offers an amazing vista at each end of the now bustling Town Center,” said community organizer, Vivian Browning. “We have worked for years to bring the community together and breathe life back into the economy; and now it is happening.”
Since the inaugural Vilano Beach Sunset Celebration event last month, Chinese Fire Wok, a new restaurant, has opened, along with the newly renovated Magic Beach Motel. In August Vilano Beach will be the host to the International Skim Board Competition. Activities for additional business openings are being planned within the month.
“You can just feel the excitement,” Browning said.
In addition to unusual and unique crafts during Saturday’s Sunset Celebration, She Fay and Dee McDuffie will perform.
Other communities are now looking to the Vilano Beach Main Street Group seeking insights on how the drive to success can be achieved. Joe Lelonik, Town Center Partner developer says, “We want critical mass visiting our shops so we must keep activities swirling.”
Funding for the Vilano Beach Town Center public infrastructure improvements has been made possible through the utilization of tax increment financing as a designated Community Redevelopment Agency, bonds made available through the St Johns County Industrial Development Authority, state grants and other sources.
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