Downtown Lafayette businesses welcome back Purdue students with 'Destination Downtown'

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Topping off the first week of classes back for Purdue University students, downtown Lafayette businesses are hoping to give them a warm welcome back to Main Street on Friday evening.

Hosted by the Downtown Lafayette Business Owners Association, the event will be 4 to 9 p.m. between Fourth and Ninth streets, which will be closed to vehicle traffic, allowing pedestrians to freely walk about booths hosted by downtown businesses.

Free and open to the public, the block party-style event will include live music, games, promotion and dining throughout Main Street.

Laura Kendall, owner of Main Street Books, 426 Main St., as well as Second Flight Books, 2122 Scott St., said in a news release several promotional sales will take place during the event alongside notable Purdue mascots.

Purdue Pete will be downtown for photos and fan interactions from 4 to 5 p.m., Kendall said. The Boilermaker Special will also be available for free rides around the downtown area from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The second event of its kind this summer, Destination Downtown was created via inspiration from several previous events that were retired in recent years around the downtown Lafayette area.

Taking the Artists's Own Gallery Walk events into consideration, which occur every other month, Nolan Willhite, co-owner of Flora Candle Co. and member of the DBLOA, said downtown business owners wanted to be mindful about not overlapping. This led to the DLBOA's decision to host its Main Street event only in the two off months during the summer, which landed this year in June and August.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Downtown Lafayette businesses welcome back Purdue students with 'Destination Downtown'