The Downtown Felton Association is welcoming people from around the region to the 2nd Annual Downtown Felton Spring Sidewalk Sale & Open House Saturday.
Christy Shults, the director of the organization, said the event, which runs from noon to 6pm, is a continuation of programming that was initially stymied by the pandemic.
“We made all these plans for 2020, a week before we went into Shelter-in-Place,” she said. “Last year was the first year we were able to start implementing all the events we wanted to do.”
Those ideas are set to come to fruition this time around with a summer music series on the Redwood Deck, a fall market in September and trick-or-treating at Halloween.
After a chilly winter, this weekend is where the community can get together to thaw out.
“This is kind of our kick-off,” Shults said. “April is when we’re like, sun’s out, time to hang out again.”
About 70% of local shops will be featuring artisan creations from area “makers,” with companies like SCM Clothing and Felton Mercantile participating.
“We have so much stuff planned for Saturday,” she said, adding Hooligan’s Smoke Club will bring out “a ginormous smoker that’s on a trailer” to serve up some BBQ.
Meanwhile, the day marks the grand opening of Ethel & Sabel, which is based around vintage-inspired gifts.
Plus, bluegrass band Mountain Drive will be performing on the Redwood Deck from 2-4pm.
“We want people from Santa Cruz, anybody who’s visiting from out of town—this is for everybody,” she said. “We really have a great little downtown.”
Foodies take note, Chef Jessica Yarr will be on the deck, too, with her Chicken Foot pop-up operation.
“She’s like our local celebrity,” Shults said. “She’s been on the Food Network. She’s been the head chef at some really nice restaurants.”
Shults recently put Yarr’s skills to the test, and says she was pleased with the results.
“She catered my wedding and she’s my friend,” Yarr said, adding she kept getting comments during the festivities like, “I’ve never had food that’s this good.”
For those who are more about scent than taste, Chelsea Sarah Drew-owned Simpatico will be offering a perfumed-based “smell experience” for shoppers.
“I think people are finally getting to see why Felton is the best hometown ever,” Shults said. “Felton is my hometown and I have loved it for all of my life.”
The creative energy leading up to the sidewalk sale is the perfect demonstration of its small-town mountain charm, she added.
“People are so kind; people are artistic,” she said. “We are putting a light on our little jewel here in San Lorenzo Valley.”
You can find out additional information about the sidewalk sale, and other upcoming events at DowntownFelton.com.
