For four days last weekend downtown Merritt was alive both night and day.

It was nice to see for a change even though it meant motorcycle engines were the last thing I heard before I fell asleep at night and the first thing I heard waking up in the morning.

Since the vendors packed up and the bikers rode off into the sunset Sunday evening, we’ve had a few days of Merritt’s usual quiet, but don’t get too used to your air-conditioned homes just yet because it’s time for another party – this one planned by locals for locals.

When the Merritt Mountain Music Festival was cancelled this year, the Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce had already begun planning its annual street mall and decided the show would go on despite the news.

And so, this Friday and Saturday the barriers will be up once more and new booths and vendors will set up shop downtown Merritt, but this time vendors are not catering to the tourists.

While the Street Fest may attract any out-of-towners to who happen to be visiting, this event is designed to showcase the local businesses and other community groups to the locals.

And it’s a nice idea really. It’s like a family barbecue versus a party with friends and new faces. Both are fun – and Merritt’s had the opportunity to experience both back to back – but sometimes it’s nice to celebrate on familiar turf with the people you know.

Boosting local business through similar events is not new to the Merritt Chamber. Shortly after I arrived here as a new reporter in September 2010, Merritt businesses hosted a 50s event on Quilchena Avenue to encourage locals to come downtown. Hula hoop and highest hair-do contests were among the festivities that day and locals wore leather jackets and poodle skirts for the occasion. However, the event turned out to be a one-time affair.

This new attempt by the Chamber to boost Merritt’s community pride and encourage local shopping does show some promise. As of Wednesday, upwards of 25 vendors had booked a spot in the street mall along Quilchena Ave. Garcia Street will host the Nicola Valley Cruisers and the Nicola Valley Vintage Car Club’s car show, while Granite Avenue will be the place to go for hungry or thirsty Merrittonians. There will be a bouncy castle for the kids near Spirit Square and, in the Square itself, local performers will entertain the masses.

Only time will tell whether locals will come out of hiding to support the event, but whether or not it’s a success (based on numbers), the Chamber should be commended for its efforts to boost Merritt’s community spirit.