A new community event called “A Rising Tide” is coming to Downtown Fresno on Oct. 18 in hopes of creating a wave of foot traffic for businesses and local artists in the area. The event will be on a Saturday every month, running from noon to 7 p.m. with live music and street vendors at each business location.
John Quiroz from Jazz Tuesdayz is the organizer and has 3 dates planned for the event’s first “series,” Oct. 18, Nov. 22 and Dec. 20.
The seven local businesses participating are Sacred Heart Coffee, The Layover, BB’s Gelateria, On A Roll Sushi, Kocky’s Bar And Grill, Grumpy Burger Lady’s and a new business location, Amethyst Alchemy.
Live music will be provided by promoters Neon Bloom, Fresno Parties, Gottschalk Music Center and Jazz Tuesdayz.
A Rising Tide is currently set to run for 6 months total. Quiroz expects it to last much longer.
According to Quiroz, Fresno City Council Vice President Miguel Arias, who represents the downtown area, is aware of the event. While A Rising Tide is currently independently funded, the plan is to form a list of sponsors for it, including Arias.
“We’re hoping that it creates such a tie that it gets the attention of the community, and in specific, Miguel Arias. We’re in his district doing this and he knows about it,” Quiroz said.
As of now, there is no requirement for vendors to apply for event permits before taking part in the current event series. This means that event organizers will be responsible for vendors as opposed to the city.
To participate, vendors can RSVP through the Google Form posted to the event’s Instagram. According to the post, space for food vendors will not be provided by event organizers.
“For vendors to pop up the way we want them to pop up, they won’t need permits. Because they’ll be near the businesses,” Quiroz said.
Quiroz is open to the idea of a permitted event.
“I would love for it to draw so many people that we do have to get that [an event permit] because you need it for safety,” Quiroz said.
Quiroz said that in comparison to other events in Fresno, the focus will be on “brick and mortar” businesses, places with a physical presence in Downtown Fresno, rather than pop-up ones.
“This came about to help businesses once a month on a Saturday because they’re hurting for business. And the last thing we want is downtown to be dead on a Saturday,” Quiroz said.
According to Quiroz, an event like ArtHop benefits the surrounding area since it takes place on a Thursday when people downtown typically get out of work by 5-6 p.m. right when the event begins.
Without anything like that on the weekend, local businesses suffer due to inactivity.
“On Saturday, they don’t come to work, so it’s just a ghost town. Businesses aren’t getting the foot traffic from all those people; government jobs, city hall, courthouse, so their numbers are suffering,” Quiroz said.
Quiroz said the event’s name is inspired by the phrase, “a rising tide lifts all boats,” commonly associated with the idea that a better economy will benefit everyone involved.
“The power of coming together, working together, will cause energy flow and hopefully the businesses feel it and it’s a success,” Quiroz said. “We want to treat the businesses like the band. They’re the rockstar, music is secondary.”
