ANOKA, Minn. — It's last call of sorts in Anoka, where the city is putting the wraps on its downtown Social District for 2024.
City leaders say the second trial run of the program - which allows visitors to wander a scenic stretch of downtown while eating, shopping and enjoying an alcoholic beverage - will officially end at 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6.
During the six-month stretch of Social District part deux, organizers staged a number of special events to draw patrons downtown, including the Rockin’ on the Rum concert series, Anoka Riverfest & Craft Fair, and the Anoka Food Truck Festival. Also in 2024, buskers registered to show off their artistic talents at designated locations within the district.
The first trial was just one month long, running through September of 2023.
Two more events will be held in the final days of the 2024 Social District:
- Anoka Vintage fest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Visitors can enjoy more than 100 vintage and antique vendors, classic cars, food trucks and music.
- Anoka Halloween Great Pumpkin Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. The fun includes a pumpkin weigh off, adult pumpkin carvings, scarecrow contest, food trucks, merchandise, a classic car expo, and more.
“With the success of the 2023 district, we extended the timeframe and the boundaries in the downtown for 2024. Including the south side of Main Street from 1st Avenue to 3rd Avenue allowed patrons to explore more of the downtown," said community development director Doug Borglund in a statement. "We continue to see success and have experienced very few issues... we look forward to another successful district in 2025.”
As in 2023, Social District organizers and staffers will report findings and data from the second trial run to the state of Minnesota, so a comprehensive plan can be developed for other cities - like Stillwater and Shakopee - that are set to debut their own Social Districts in 2025.
For more on the district's final days and the concept, check out the Anoka city website.