Titusville draws more people to downtown

 

For singer/keyboard player Stevie Legend, Titusville offers just what he is looking for after his years of living in Denver and making a career out of his music. "I love it here. It's got such a small-town vibe," said Legend, a Titusville resident, who also is the author of "The Eternal Moment," about his life in the music industry.

Legend performed at this week's Wine Wednesday event at the Downtown Titusville Center on Main Street, one of a growing number of events helping lure people to downtown. Just this week, for example, in addition to Wine Wednesday, a weekly farmers' market reopened Wednesday afternoon at downtown's Sand Point Park; the weekly Thursday Night Live music series featured guitarist Arturo Echarte performing Latin-inspired acoustics at Nevin's Courtyard, and a Hot Dog in the City event at the Downtown Titusville Center featured all styles of franks, including free hot dogs for children 13 and younger.

Helping put it all together is Titusville downtown coordinator Gina Stanford. "People are hungry for something to do," Stanford said, so she is trying to accommodate them. In coming weeks, for example, there will be the Indian River Festival from April 7 to 10; the next of the monthly Children's Exploration events that are both entertaining and education on April 8; the Antiques Affair antiques-themed event on April 16; the TitusNites Jazz and Wine Festival on April 22; the Holistic Healing Fair on April 30; a Cruise-In car show on May 7; and inaugural Titusville Sea Turtle Festival from June 23 to June 25. History-themed ghost tours of downtown will begin later this year.

Titusville Mayor Jim Tulley often marvels at how much is in Stanford's report of downtown activities when she presents it at the monthly Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency meetings. Local entrepreneur Natasha Blount said she also is impressed by all that's going on downtown. "Now, there are things you can actually do," said Blount, who owns Sole Endeavors, a women's custom handbag, shoe and accessories business. Legend, who also is one of the musicians featured in the Thursday Night Live music series, said he's glad to see all that's happening in downtown Titusville. "It's good for the town," Legend said.