First Saturday events start June 5

A new community promotional campaign is focusing on monthly activities and events starting this weekend and continuing throughout the year.

“First Saturday Clarendon, Texas” is a movement and marketing campaign to pool resources and centralize support behind a once-a-month weekend of activities, trade days, shopping and fun in Clarendon and Donley County.

Saturday, June 5, marks the official return of Whistle-Stop Trade Days, and “First Saturday Clarendon, Texas” coincides with that event as well as the annual Trash to Treasures Garage Sale event, which is also this Saturday.

The volunteer led effort designed by Studio E Creative builds on the success of the Whistle-Stop and encourages businesses, organizations, and anyone else planning an event to consider having it on the weekend of the First Saturday of each month.

“This campaign will leverage the community’s collective reach to attract more people to come to Clarendon,” Studio E’s Ashlee Estlack said, “and not only come to Clarendon, but also to encourage them to ‘stay a little longer’ than just an hour or two.”

The campaign endorsed by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation. The Chamber board in April agreed to consider holding future events and promotions on the first Saturday weekends, and the CEDC board also agreed in April to include “First Saturday Clarendon, Texas” in its current regional marketing and to highlight First Saturday events on the ClarendonTX.com website.

“People come to town for the Trade Days,” Estlack said, “but they want and need more to do for that day to make the trip worthwhile.”

This Saturday, for example, people can enjoy the food trucks, live music, and fun of the Whistle-Stop and also check out 25 Trash To Treasures garage sales, enjoy time at the Clarendon Aquatic Center, and spend some quality movie time in Cinema City at either the Mulkey Theatre or the Sandell Drive-In.

July’s “First Saturday Clarendon, Texas” will feature the annual Saints’ Roost Celebration in addition to the Whistle-Stop, the aquatic center, and movies.

First Saturday events are being sought for August and September to go along with trade days. First Saturday in October will see the return of the Lions Clubs members from across the Panhandle as they bring their fall cabinet meeting back to the Mulkey Theatre.

If you know of something happening on the first weekend of each month, it can easily be added to the promotion mix by calling or texting 806-662-4687, emailing ashlee.estlack@gmail.com, visiting the “First Saturday, Clarendon Texas” Facebook page, or by filling out the contact form at ClarendonTX.com/FirstSaturday.