“Thursdays on the Triangle” in Hazard, Kentucky, kicked off its fifth year last week. This mini-festival hosted on Main Street in Hazard every other Thursday during the summer months revolves around the town’s farmers market and brings food, music and the arts to downtown.
Local musicians perform and artists demonstrate and sell their craft. Farmers sell produce at the market, and food and beer vendors are on site. There is no cost associated with setting up a booth for Thursdays on the Triangle to prevent it from being barrier to participation for some.
By providing a barrier-free marketplace to local food and farm vendors, Thursdays on the Triangle provides a unique mechanism for local food producers to sell their products to the community. And, since the event is free and open to the public and located in the heart of downtown Hazard, the local community is an intrinsic part of Thursdays on the Triangle.
The event encourages local tourism for visitors interested in experiencing the music, art and food of the mountains. The festival is coordinated by the Appalachian Arts Alliance.
Vibrant communities where people want to live and work is an important part of a just transition to a new economy. Many times, this type of community building is referred to as “creative place-making,” a term to describe how partners from public, private, non-profit and community sectors come together strategically to shape the physical and social character of a community to create welcoming spaces.
Building communities where people want to live, work and play – and where young people want to stay or return to – is an important part of Appalachia’s New Day.
About: Appalachia’s New Day is a new storytelling effort offered by MACED to eastern Kentucky communities. We can work with you to help identify, shape and amplify stories about businesses, programs and initiatives in your community that are helping build a new economy in eastern Kentucky. Contact us or sign up here if you would like more details.
