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Luverne businesses, shoppers and downtown visitors kicked off a summer of “Throwback Thursdays” last week on May 26.
They enjoyed live music, food, shops open late and hanging out with Thunder and Rumble, Luverne’s new bison mascots.
“This is your chance to visit with friends, family and get ready for the Memorial Day Weekend,” Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere wrote in a May 25 email to Chamber members.
Throwback Thursdays are every fourth Thursday of the month from 5 to 9 p.m. on Main Street where Sterling’s Café & Grille features live music — outside if the weather permits or inside if not — and businesses are encouraged to offer special sales or attractions.
For the May 26 event, artist Lori Hallstrom hosted Chad Dykstra of Up In Smoke Pottery in front of her HGS Gallery where he demonstrated work on a pottery wheel. He also displayed finished pieces for sale.
Tyana’s Boutique partnered with Merecie’s Moonbeams Relay for Life Team on a fundraiser at the Boutique.
Those who posted selfies with Thunder and Rumble on the Chamber’s Facebook page were eligible to receive a $50 cash prize.
Throwback Thursday is an effort of the Retail Marketing Group to generate downtown business on what has historically been a tradition of evening store hours.
It joins three other Thursday night attractions — a free Bank Night movie at the Palace on the first Thursday of the month, Take 16 block parties are on the second Thursday of the month and music at the Hinkly House is on the third Thursday.
Lanphere said the idea is to create a sense of community this summer.
“The real purpose is to bring Luverne residents ‘outside’ to share wonderful experiences and have the opportunity to get to know each other.”