By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Feb. 15, 2018) The Pocomoke City Council, last Monday, approved a beer and wine license for Fourth Friday art strolls, good for the remainder of the year.

Fourth Fridays run April through September, from 5-8 p.m.

Marc Scher, president of the downtown Pocomoke Association, said there were an increasing numbers of events in the town.

“Anybody that’s been down there [knows] we’ve grown by leaps and bounds,” he said. “[With] Fourth Fridays, it’s baby steps, but we’re making progress. Just from the beer and wine sales we’ve had each time, it’s been phenomenal.”

Karah Lacey, economic development coordinator, said the upcoming Fourth Friday season would be the fifth in Pocomoke. She said events were modeled after monthly art strolls in Snow Hill, Berlin and Salisbury.

“Each town follows a similar outline of the event, which includes free registration to local artists, stores staying open during event hours [and] there’s live entertainment and refreshment sales, which include wine and beer,” she said.

Lacey and Scher handle purchasing and vending all of the beer and wine during events. She said they both took classes through the Worcester County Health Department and were certified to do so.

During events, alcohol consumption is permitted only in non-glass containers in the closed off area of Market Street, from Front Street to 2nd Street. Lacey said Pocomoke Police provides assistance and there had not been any incidents related to alcohol sales.

“The money we raise from the beverage sales allows us to host several events downtown, aside from Fourth Fridays, including the downtown Pocomoke Fall Festival and Spring Festival, which are family friendly events,” Lacey said. “The funds we raise also help us advertise and beautify the downtown area. We also give back to the community by donating to local charities and nonprofits.”

The City Council unanimously approved the request.

Fourth Fridays return on April 27. The Downtown Pocomoke Spring Festival is scheduled on April 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Downtown Pocomoke Fall Festival is set for Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information on Pocomoke events, visit www.downtownpocomoke.com.