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WEIMAR — The third Rock the Block reached vendor capacity after welcoming 60 local and Texas-based vendors with more on a waiting list, Friday night, Sept. 26, in downtown Weimar.
Weimar residents danced to live music from Southbound 955, shopped from local vendors and enjoyed various food trucks during the family-friendly community event. Weimar Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tiffany Hougardy organized the first semiannual Rock the Block at the end of last year. Rock the Block previously expanded its duration and space to span across Mechanic Street up to Highway 90 and Main Street.
“The town and everywhere around here loves this event, and it’s growing like crazy,” Hougardy said. “We’ve maxed out on vendor space. Our goal is [for] our next one is to expand it even farther down Post Office Street in front of M-G and bring in more kids’ activities.”
Hougardy said she started the event to bring business to downtown and because people had to travel to Columbus or La Grange for community events. She said since the event started, a few more businesses have opened in the empty spots downtown.
“It’s a way to bring people into Weimar to liven up downtown,” Hougardy said. “…My goal was to attract people to Weimar to eventually want to open up a business and liven up Weimar again which has kind of worked.”
Vendors sold a variety of goods including homemade foods, home décor, upcycled clothing, jewelry, bath products and more. Stephanie Fajik, from Moulton in Lavaca County, sold homemade pasta and honey collected from her over thirty hives.
“I’ve come a couple of times,” Fajik said. “…[My experience] has been very good. We sold a lot…[People] like local honey.”
Various local organizations like the Lions Club, Encore Lions and Veterans Memorial Hall, also attended as vendors to fundraise. Weimar Encore Lions fundraised for Seniors Together, an outreach program for seniors in Columbus that will expand soon to Eagle Lake. Treasurer Denise Koenig said that the Encore Lions participated in Rock the Block for the first time to test public engagement for future fundraising events.
“We thought we would start small, start with Rock the Block. If it works, then we might go on to something bigger to raise funds,” Koenig said. “It looks like [it’s working]. Now that it’s getting darker, traffic is picking up, so it’s doing pretty good.”
Koenig described the Weimar community as responsive and generous. The night came to a close with roasting s’mores on small fire pits. Updates and information about the next Rock the Block will be posted to the Weimar Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
