June 12 Uncorked event offers wine sampling, appetizers and shopping specials

By Sherry Lucas

Olde Towne Uncorked, summer version, returns to Clinton’s brick streets with another combo of fun with friends and leisurely after-hours shopping, 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 12.

Main Street Clinton expects about 150 fun-seekers for this popular event, strolling the heart of the city with a keepsake wine glass and sipping and snacking as they browse and buy.

Dipping in and out of participating businesses, they will find an appetizer, wine sampling and event-specific discounts at each stop.

Early bird Uncorked tickets, purchased through Main Street Clinton, are $20 each, before noon on June 12. Tickets purchased at the event are $25 each. Bring ID for proof of age.

Uncorked brings a bustling air to Olde Towne, brightening the weekday dusk hours with laughter and activity.

“The brick streets are busier than usual, since Uncorked is an after-hours event,” Main Street Clinton Events Assistant Kim Smith said. “Live music is a nice addition to liven up the streets.”

Uncorked had its start in fall 2022, and its success prompted demand for a spring counterpart. Main Street Clinton has logged five Uncorked events so far, and ticket sales continue to grow. And, while the Santa Claus Crawl ranks first among Main Street Clinton’s after-hours shopping events, Uncorked scores a close second.

Some have turned the twice-yearly Uncorked events into a much-anticipated tradition with pal groups, and the event continues to attract more.

“Uncorked has become a very popular event. We enjoy seeing familiar faces and new faces,” Smith said.

Attendees find much to enjoy — camaraderie, wine tasting and tasty bites as they make their way through downtown, discounts at favorite local shopping destinations and the charm of Olde Towne at night. Businesses benefit from a boost in foot traffic after hours and the chance to pull new customers through their doors.

Lovely owner Sara Allen says she loves the Uncorked events for their girls-night-out vibe that pulls friends, mother-daughter duos and more downtown and puts them in a festive mood that is a notch above the everyday pop-in-and-shop experience.

“Everyone is laughing and talking together and having a good time,” Allen said. That translates to a more laidback and receptive shopping experience at the clothing and accessories boutique.

The boosted traffic can even reach people from outside Clinton and draw them to the brick streets, where they can see all the stores and get a look at how much the downtown area has grown over the last couple of years, she said.