Details Finalized for Movie Nights, Several Fests in La Grange

The La Grange Community Development and Tourism Department gave an update to the City Council Monday night, March 29.

La Grange Main Street Manager Caleb Parks said Movie Nights on the Square will return this summer with shows on the following dates:

• “Encanto” on Friday, June 3,

• “Brave” on Friday, June 10, and

• “Soul” on Friday, July 8.

Main Street is also coordinating a walking tour of historic downtown La Grange on Saturday, May 21, with another tour planned for October. Bobbie Nash of the Fayette County Historical Commission will lead the tour.

“Bobbie has all these cool anecdotes about the different buildings and locations in the historic district,” he said.

Parks said Main Street is also working on an audiobook for the tour, narrated by Nash, so that people can go on self-guided tours at their convenience. Other upcoming Main Street

Other upcoming Main Street events include the following:

• Blood Drive at Casino Hall on Thursday, April 7, starting at 10 a.m.

• La Grange Career Fair at Casino Hall on Thursday, April 14, starting at 11 a.m.

• Christmas in July Open House on Thursday, July 14

• Oktoberfest on the Square on Saturday, October 1, starting at 3 p.m.

• Blood Drive at Casino Hall on Thursday, October 27, starting at 10 a.m.

• Trick or Treat on the Square on Monday, October 31, starting at 4 p.m.

• Christmas Open House on Thursday, November 17

• Shop Small Saturday on Saturday, November 26, starting at 9:30 a.m.

• Schmeckenfest on Thursday, December 1, starting at 5 p.m.

Hannah Garlick, the City’s new Community & Economic Development Manager, gave a report on her department’s various grant programs. She said the City awarded Paint and Sign Grants totaling $3,500 to five local businesses so far this fiscal year. They include Southern Ways Decor, Potluck Trading Company, Lindemann Real Estate, Hello Beautiful and Vertiglow.

The City has also awarded two façade grants totaling $25,225 so far this fiscal year. They went to the Cornerstone Building and La Grange Motor Company. The City also offers a security grant program that helps businesses pay for surveillance systems and other security-related upgrades. No security grants have been awarded in this fiscal year so far, Garlick said.

Garlick said the City’s grant programs have awarded $130,879.28 to private property owners over the last three years. She said those grants resulted in $415,596.41 in private investment from the property owners.