Main Street Mt. Pleasant hosts first Music on Main of the year

Downtown Mt. Pleasant was packed on Friday, July 12, as residents flocked to the square for the annual Music on Main and cruise in events.

This was the first event of the year as the ag event scheduled for June 21 was canceled due to weather. Last year, the Car Cruise In night was canceled due to weather. Lisa Oetken, Director of Main Street Mt. Pleasant, said she was glad to be able to welcome the 150 plus cars down to the square.

'My luck with rain has been not good,” she said with a laugh.

The Music on Main event used to be hosted by the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, she said, but the job responsibilities were taken over by Main Street last year. She estimated the event brings in about 500 people a night, which is vital in exposing downtown Mt. Pleasant to new demographics of people.

'I think it's very important to get people out. Whether they are going into the businesses tonight (or not), they are getting exposed to the businesses,” she said. 'I think it adds diversity and also it shows what different groups we have. We have a beautiful downtown ... why not show it off.”

Enjoying the night was the Mt. Pleasant Class of 1974 who held their 45th reunion during the event. Julie Larsh Douglas, a member of the class, said the night was specifically chosen in order for the class to enjoy the music and cruise in.

She said the city did not have events like this when she was in school and thought it was 'fabulous” people were getting out and mingling downtown.

'It's a great opportunity for people in the community, not just class reunions, but for everybody to get together,” she said. 'It's a great setting.”

Ed Kropa, of Mt. Pleasant, stopped down to see the cars and listen to the music. He said hosting events like this offered the community a great excuse to get out of the house and meet downtown to enjoy the atmosphere and each other. Classic small-town America events like this are what Mt. Pleasant is all about, he said.

'It's not quite Norman Rockwell, but we're getting close,” he said with a smile.