Grosse Pointe Park to Host 3 ‘After 6 on Kercheval’ Events This Summer

Kercheval Avenue in Grosse Pointe Park will be closed down to motorists and be open to pedestrians, food and merchant vendors at night three times this summer for the popular ‘After 6 on Kercheval’ evening market.
Last July, West Park Farmer’s Market tested the idea of a nighttime market, which included more food vendors than during the typical daytime market.
It drew hundreds of people to Grosse Pointe Park and was such a success, officials have decided to incorporate the event into the schedule three times this summer.
The nighttime markets are June 8, July 13 and Aug. 10 this year.
Grosse Pointe Park’s Director of Parks and Recreation Terry Soloman said they’ve made a few changes to improve the experience.
Among those changes are that the live music will be broadcast throughout the street on the city’s speaker system so as to prevent having one area that is loud from the band music and other areas without music, she said.
The movie screen will show old movies with a dance theme without sound. This is again intended to be a part of the experience but not meant to take over the night, Soloman said, noting without sound passersby won’t feel as if they must sit and watch the whole movie.
Officials are also planning to have vendors set up in a more organized way, Soloman said.
The band will be at Lakepointe and Kercheval along with the movie screen. All food vendors will be set up on Kercheval from Lakepointe to Nottingham and all merchandise vendors will be set up from Lakepointe to Maryland, Soloman said.
“We were pleased it was so successful,” Soloman said, explaining she believes it’s a good meeting place for people living in any of the Pointes and beyond.
Last year’s initial event in mid-July drew more than 1,000 people, she said. Park officials are hopeful this year will draw just as many if not more, she said.
In addition to the food and merchandise vendors, there will be a beer, wine and water tent, she said.
On the days of the nighttime market, West Park Farmer’s Market will be open in the morning featuring farmer’s products only, Soloman said. The merchandise vendors will not be set up in the morning but will be available in the evening, she said.
After 6 on Kercheval opens to the public at 6 p.m. and closes at 11 p.m.
Kercheval Avenue will be closed from 4 p.m. to midnight so officials and vendors will have time to set up and break down their stations before and after the market, she said.
The effort to do a nighttime market is one of many the Park is trying to do in an effort to draw younger people to live in Grosse Pointe Park. The development plans in the business district are also heavily focused on this as well.