The coming year may see a bevy of new festival and event activity enliven the rejuvenated downtown area in Hanceville.

At this week’s regular meeting, the Hanceville City Council heard a presentation from longtime Cullman retailer Shawn Bennett, who recently opened Too You Nique, a specialty shop in a renovated space along Hanceville’s Commercial Street.

Among Bennett’s ideas to generate more downtown buzz is an annual event that would celebrate Hanceville’s Irish heritage.

“The idea is kind of that, just as Cullman has Oktoberfest to promote their German tradition, Hancveville could start promoting its Irish tradition with a different kind of celebration,” said Mayor Kenneth Nail, himself a shareholder in a downtown restaurant.

“He’s talked with some folks who could come down and feature some pretty neat microbrews for us; things we could actually name after people and events from our past,” he added. “Hanceville has a pretty interesting history, and it would be neat to sort of base a community event around bring it to life.”

Other proposals include a downtown street dinner and a Dickens-themed Christmas season coordinated by area merchants.

The council held no votes on any proposals this week, but Nail said he expects one or more of the ideas to gain momentum.

“I think the council is going to be pretty supportive of what the merchants are trying to do,” he said. “We want to educate the folks living and working right here in Hanceville that our downtown is alive again, and getting more so as the months go by.”

 

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.