Sippin' and strollin' Event bring locals to downtown Moses Lake

Richard Byrd | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 2 months AGO

Richard Byrd/Columbia Basin Herald Sip and Stroll on Saturday was a multi-faceted event that saw people connecting, shopping and just plain having fun in the downtown area.

Richard Byrd/Columbia Basin Herald The variety of drinks available for participants to enjoy during Sip and Stroll on Saturday was vast and one of the more popular aspects of the event.

MOSES LAKE — Whoever came up with the name for the Moses Lake Business Association’s “Sip and Stroll” event certainly hit the nail on the head with that one. Sip and Stroll saw participants doing just that in downtown Moses Lake Saturday afternoon, all the while discovering businesses they may have not been aware of.

Sip and Stroll brought participants to 10 businesses in the downtown corridor, with each of the locations featuring a drink selection from local wineries, breweries and distilleries.

“We also have artists scattered about. We have musicians scattered about. We have authors. We have a couple poets. So they are kind of scattered throughout the different businesses,” Laura Mayer, MLBA Board of Directors member, remarked. “It’s a great opportunity for us to open our doors as business owners and it’s great for the MLBA to bring in activity to the downtown.”

The MLBA has an overall goal of doing an event like Sip and Stroll at least three times a year. Mayer, who owns Artgarden Pottery on Third Avenue, said the events are typically well attended by the public and feedback is generally very positive. The event served not only as a way to introduce people to the downtown corridor, but it also doubled as a boost for several of the businesses that were involved in the event.

“The last time we did this event we had the biggest Sunday that we have ever had. So I think people came in and checked it out on Saturday and then we had a business bump the next day,” Mayer said. “As a merchant it’s great to see new people come downtown. I look at it as a great networking/marketing opportunity for my business.”

The downtown area saw numerous groups of people strolling from store to store with no end goal in mind other than having a good time.

“Me and my girlfriends are having a fun kid-less weekend and decided to come on out. I generally don’t come to the downtown in Moses Lake, so this is really beneficial because it makes my network of businesses to shop at even bigger,” Laura Hilderbrand said with a chuckle.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.