Printer Friendly Version - Madison’s Beachcomber Night Returns Aug. 17

Beachcomber Night always draw crowds to downtown Madison for food, music, shopping, and a chance to support a worthy organization. The eighth annual Beachcomber Night on Thursday, Aug. 17 will support the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company and Madison Hose Co. No. 1. Photo by Brian Boyd/The Source

Summer may be starting to slow, but there are still a few more big events on the calendar. The Madison Chamber of Commerce’s eighth annual Beachcomber Night returns to downtown on Thursday, Aug. 17 from 5 to 8 p.m., promising good food, live music, sales, and a raffle with all proceeds going to a good cause.

Local shops and visiting vendors will line the streets of Boston Post Road and Wall Street with plenty of things to buy and try. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Eileen Banisch said this event is a nice way to support local vendors and raise some money for this year’s event beneficiary, the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company and Madison Hose Co. No. 1.

“Every year we like to have a local charity or organization that we think has displayed a need,” she said. “I know that the fire departments, since they are all volunteer and do their own fundraising, but then are also partially supported by taxpayer dollars—they always have a need for newer equipment.”

Last year, Beachcomber proceeds went to the Madison Ambulance Association “because we knew they needed some much-needed equipment and were trying to get the funds together for it, so we though we would help them in their efforts to improve the equipment and facilities,” Banisch said.

Entrance to the event is $10 per person and with a growing list of vendors, attendees will get a lot of bang for their buck. According to Banisch, food vendors include Tacqueria Cinco, Bowl’d, Delicious Dough, Thai Truck, RJ Café, Madison Beach Hotel, Grand Apizza, Popcentric, Brother Mike’s, Captain Scott’s lobster roll truck, and many more.

For beverages, numerous local distributors are scheduled to attend including the Madison Wine Shop, Stony Creek Brewery, Chamard Vineyard, and New England Cider Company.

A majority of downtown businesses will be open for the evening and bands are lined up for the evening, including Blues on the Rocks, School of Rock House band, and Shoreline Connection among others to provide live music throughout the evening. Banisch said she hopes the event, now in its eighth year, will continue to grow.

“It grows every year,” she said. “I am hoping to have 700 attendees this year, we had a little over 500 last year so it just seems to be growing in popularity all of the time.”

To learn more about the event or to purchase a wristband in advance, visit madisonct.com.