ChickFest 2021 brings shoppers downtown

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The streets of downtown Charles City were lined with shoppers Saturday for ChickFest 2021.

Tagged as “a fun day of shopping, dining and hanging out with your lady friends,” Charles City’s annual ChickFest started in 2008 as a way to welcome spring and spotlight the shops and dining establishments the community has to offer.,

Participating locations offered activities, ranging from sampling and special services to prize drawings and informative presentations. There was even a giant chicken spotted, doing the “chicken dance” with a group of kids.

Starting at 9 a.m., the first 100 women who lined up at The Charles Theatre were treated to a bag full of treats and offers from local merchants. The bags were gone in less than five minutes.

Shoppers could check out and even sample the offerings at newer businesses such as Main Street Drug and The McCoy Smoothies, as well as at established shops such as Saxony and Aroma’s Coffee.

“It’s been amazing,” said Tami Vetter at The Rustic Corner. “The nice weather helped, and having it Easter Weekend has been great, because people have family in town, and it was a great opportunity to get out.”

Vetter said she had several customers from out of town, some from as far away as Wisconsin.

“After COVID, this was a nice way to welcome everybody back into the stores,” she said. She reminded customers that Charles City will be hosting similar events in the coming months, such as “Christmas in July” this summer.