Have a 'beach blast' downtown today

The Aiken Downtown Development Association is bringing the beach to Newberry Street this evening for its second annual Beach Blast event.

Aiken's Beach Blast '09 will be held in conjunction with the ADDA's quarterly Downtown After 6 promotion and will be held at the Newberry Street Festival site.

Carla Cloud, executive director of the ADDA, said the organization is looking to have an even bigger turnout this year than last year.

"This was a huge success last year for the first Beach Blast, and we believe it will be even better this year," Cloud said in a release.

The festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. with a antique car cruise-in by members of the Aiken Horsepower Association.

Many participating merchants will have give-a-ways at Beach Blast. True Value Hardware will give away free hot dogs; Coldwell Banker will distribute homemade ice cream and Birds and Butterflies will have free lemonade.

Tea Garden Gifts has teamed with ACTS for "Chicken of the Sea Week". To participate, people are being asked to bring cans of Chicken of the Sea tuna or salmon and donate the cans to ACTS for distribution to the needy. Those who bring in two cans and receive a 20 percent discount at Tea Garden Gifts, three cans earns a 30 percent discount and for 10 cans or more, participants will be rewarded with a 40 percent discount.

"We tell the sponsoring businesses that we'll get the community downtown and it's up to them to do whatever their budget and imagination will allow to draw them into their shop," said Cloud. "Tea Garden is really showing their creativity, and what a great community project."

The music and dancing will begin on Newberry Street at 8:30 p.m. with shag demonstrations.

"A year ago, we had a number of teen and college-aged shaggers as well as the more experienced-aged shaggers," Cloud said. "It was quite a demonstration and fun for all ages."

There is no charge for any of the Beach Blast activities. However, the Aiken Community Playhouse's Youth Wing will be selling cold sodas and Sweet Cow Creamery will be selling ice cream during the "beach dance," Cloud said.

The event is being sponsored by the Aiken Community Playhouse, Jim Hanna's Sportswear, Aiken Family Magazine, Saunders Audio Video, Sonic, URS and Argo Land Development, as well as the ADDA.

Aiken Center for the Arts, Aiken Community Playhouse, Aiken County Visitors Center, Birds and Butterflies, Carriage House Inn, Coldwell Banker United, Connie's Framing, Desserves, Lionel Smith Ltd., Plum Pudding, Sweet Cow Creamery, Tea Garden Gifts, The Curiosity Shop, True South Communities, True Value Hardware and Women's Echoes, all will be open for after hours shopping and activities at the event.

Complimentary maps of participating merchants and activities will be available from the ADDA office in The Alley at 5 p.m.

For more information, contact the ADDA office at 649-2221.

Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.