UPDATE: An event will still take place on Friday, April 20 but is being revamped. See the Hays Post for further updates.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Downtown Hays has revamped its spring The Taste event, added a fashion show and dubbed it Catwalk on the Bricks.
The event, which will be Friday, April 20, will offer some of the same features the popular Taste event did. Participants will be able to sample appetizer-size foods from downtown restaurants and will receive two drink tickets for wine or beer.
Stores also have the option of offering refreshments in their businesses after the fashion show.
“We want people to have a taste of downtown, whether it is services or food or anything. They got that with The Taste, but people got kind of bored. It was the same event. We had it for several years, and we wanted to throw a big flare in there, and downtown business owners actually requested to have a fashion show,” said Ashley Roth, Downtown Hays Development Corp. assistant director.
Cost will be $25. Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 26. Tickets can be purchased online at www.downtownhays.com or by calling the Downtown Hays Development Corporation office at 785-621-4171. You must 21 years old or older to purchase tickets, and an ID will be required to enter. Drinks will only be permitted on Main Street between 10th and 11th streets.
Only 300 tickets will be sold.
Check-in for the event will be from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Tables and chairs will be set up on Mains Street with a red carpet. Participants can mingle and enjoy their drinks, and then the fashion show will kick off at 6 p.m. The main event of the night will be a DJ’ed fashion show featuring looks from downtown retailers. Local salons will do hair and makeup for local models. The show will feature each retailer twice with different looks.
Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director, said you will see a variety of ages in the show, and the show will include men’s women’s and children’s fashions.
The committee chose the title Catwalk on the Bricks because they wanted the stylists to be creative and really go all out with the makeup and hair, Bloom said.
After the fashion show between 7 and 9 p.m., people will be free to stroll downtown with retailers extending shopping hours for the event. Participants will receive a brochure with exclusive event coupons.
“So the fun of The Taste has still been kept. It has just been added upon,” Bloom said. “With the Catwalk, you are still going to have great giveaways, because all of the business are going to donate gift cards or products or items that are going to be given away.”
The gift cards will be given away after the fashion show.
“If you are one of those lucky winners, you are going to have money in your pocket right away to go enjoy and spend,” Bloom said. “You are getting the fun of The Taste. You’re keeping the stroll. You are still getting a lot of food and drink. You are still getting to shop really late at these businesses that sometimes close a little early for you to shop at. You are getting all the excitement that was The Taste, and we are throwing in a little bit extra with the fashion show.”