Downtown prepping for Valentine's Day

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

The paper hearts beginning to festoon parts of downtown Bigfork are just the beginning of a Valentine's Day event that area merchants are hoping will give the village a mid-winter boost.

With the celebration of St. Valentine on a Thursday and the ensuing weekend falling on a Canadian holiday, organizers say they hope the event will be an art-walk type event that will pull people from all over the region.

Tammy Riecke, who owns Riecke's Bayside Gallery, is helping spearhead the effort as part of a revitalized group of downtown merchants working in conjunction with the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce.

"I'm proud of our group," Riecke said. "We're gung-ho to do this."

Riecke said businesses would be open in the evening on Valentine's Day to give people plenty of browsing options before settling down to a romantic downtown dinner. On Saturday, she said, businesses would be open late again and many will serve food and drink as they did for the art walk in December. Downtown will also be decorated with hundreds of pink and red balloons on Valentine's day from morning to night.

"We're looking forward to it," Riecke said. "This thing will be great next year too when we have more time."

Art Fusion owner Pamme Reed, who has been involved with galleries on Electric Avenue for more than 20 years, said her gallery will give out plenty of hugs and kisses — the candy kind — on Valentine's Day and that she's hoping the favorable exchange rate could draw many neighbors from the north to Bigfork.

Monday, Feb. 18 is Alberta Family Day in the western Canadian province and many workers will have a long weekend.

Bigfork Chamber of Commerce Director Bruce Solberg said the Valentine's event will encompass the Customer Appreciation event that usually happens during this time of year.

"We're including the two together," he said. "We want them to come down for Valentine's Day and let us show our appreciation."

Solberg said businesses are posting promotions, events and specials on the chamber's Web site at www.bigfork.org under the "calendar of events" section. He said downtown merchants would also have small cards to give shoppers that will list specials and features happening downtown.

After Valentine's Day, Bigfork's next big event is the Cowabunga show in March, followed by the Clean Our Fork Cleanup and the Taste of Bigfork in April and the Spring Art Walk, Mother's Day and the Whitewater Festival in May.