With over 400 participants in last year’s kickoff event, this summer’s second annual Camp Soul City is expecting even more local families to flock downtown on July 15 for a fun-filled day.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., several of Augusta’s retail stores will partner up to provide a variety of creative activities that will incorporate a summer camp theme.
Organized by Downtown Soul City, an Augusta nonprofit dedicated to retail awareness and discovery in local businesses, all ages are welcome to attend the event and collect the different badges offered at each station.
Twelve business fronts will participate in hopes of attracting new customers and expanding consumer interests in new local merchandise, according to Downtown Soul City’s John Porter.
“My point of view from being a participant last year, I really enjoyed it because it really gave me a lot of face-to-face time with people who are in the community – people who are shopping and are actively downtown,” he said. “Not only did I get to speak with them, but I also got to meet a ton of new people who maybe don’t come downtown often … just seeing everyone have a good, fun time is really what was great.”
With businesses being vastly more prepared for a big audience, unlike last year’s camp, Porter said he hopes Camp Soul City leaves people with a new hunger to visit downtown Augusta more often.
“I think a lot of the importance comes from discovery. A lot of people don’t know what’s in their hometown, and they don’t know what to do,” he said. “After COVID-19, things are hard and there’s a lot more vacancies downtown … and we’re really trying to revitalize the movement of supporting local businesses, and people spending their time downtown for more than just a bite to eat.”
While most activities will be provided for free to attendees, a select few, such as Grantski Records’ tie-dye t-shirt booth, will require a small fee due to expensive materials being utilized.
As Buona Caffe demonstrates to campers how to make an excellent cup of coffee, Tiffinie Bleu Bridal will be teaching how to make flower crowns perfect for any summer event. Sirius Sage will provide patterned paper for people to create paper plans, where they will be invited to write prayers, blessings or wishes before throwing them into a collective day’s display that will showcase the event’s powerful manifestation.
For families and friends with a competitive side, cool off from the summer heat at Urban K9 with multiple water games and races, such as Fill the Bucket, Water Balloon Toss and Water Balloon Relay Races. Campers who wanted to make a quick stop to have some extra fun can visit Freshwater Design Co. for water skee-ball.
Artistic campers can enjoy printing a poster on an ink press at Mod Ink, mixing together a scented DIY basketball bug repellent for work, creating a mosaic at Art on Broad, making an ornament with popsicle sticks, craft a scented citronella candle with Augusta Candle Co. or construct a poem from upcycled texts at the Book Tavern.
“The more that people participate in these kinds of events, the more events like this we can have – the more retailers we can get onboard, the bigger the audience we can cater towards,” said Porter. “Realistically our goal is to one day get all the businesses downtown involved.”
For those planning to participate in Camp Soul City, interested parties are encouraged to become a Soul City VIP member for $4.99 a month, which will guarantee early access to a new spring event in the works.
“We’re really looking to decrease the vacancies downtown,” said Porter. “It’s also important to show the community and other new businesses that we are collaborative … the more people spend their time downtown and shop, the more everybody else wins.”
For more information about the upcoming event or to become a VIP member, visit:https://www.downtownsoul.city/camp-soul-city-more-info
