The alley behind the Hotel Magnolia between U.S. 98 and Jessamine Street will be much livelier than usual in the upcoming weeks.

In August, Mell Davis and Anthony Kaiser organized a group of local business owners and citizens who have one thing in common. They all want to do everything they can to support local merchants and rebuild the community in Foley.

“I am a believer in what Foley once was and can be again,” said Davis in a press release. “This is a wonderful community and we want everyone to visit uptown Foley and enjoy the surroundings, heritage and local merchants dedicated to making uptown Foley a bustling part of our city.”

Katie Spratlin, who is also a member of the Uptown Foley Committee said the 18 members “really just want to bring back life and vitality to the uptown Foley area.”

Uptown Foley is so dedicated to this cause because “so often people drive by and just keep going, or think of Foley and think about areas other than the uptown area. We want to instill community pride. Come by and shop Foley first.” 

The Foley Fall Market will be the first event that Uptown Foley hosts, but they hope to have other events in the near future. “We were hoping with the Foley Fall Market and the holiday season coming up that we will really just be able to get the name out there and the word out there that local merchants care, you can buy from them, and now is as good of a time to buy from them as any,” said Spratlin.

The Foley Fall Market, which will be held in the alley behind the Magnolia Hotel. The event will take place every Thursday from Oct. 14-Nov. 4 from 5-7 p.m. each night.

Every Thursday there will be activities that everyone in the family can enjoy. There will be a children’s activity center which will include an opportunity to get up close and personal with some animals from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and watch demonstrations by the Foley Police and Fire Departments, Hula Hooping fun with Jay and a community art project.

“The Foley Fire Departmet is going to be there and they are going to be doing their smoke alarm program. The Foley Police Department will also be there, getting to know the kids,” said Spratlin.

The community art project will be a group project for all children to participate in. Bonnie Blaylock from the Foley Performing Arts Association plans to help children of the community create a piece of art using a six-foot concrete pipe and decorating it with paintings of fish. Uptown Foley hopes to be able to donate the art to the city so that it can be displayed in the community. Spratlin said “it is going to be incredible.”

The Foley Performing Arts Association will also stay open late for the Foley Fall Market evenings.

While the children are occupied with children’s activities the adults will have the opportunity to shop from local vendors who will set up down the alley or visit the local farmer’s market.

Spratlin said the current participants of the farmer’s market include Fiddler Farms and Zimmlich Farms. She said this will be a great opportunity “so that people in the area can get to know who our local farmers are and buy from them. It will help boost the economy all the way around.”

Everyone will also be able to sample some wine and cheese in the Magnolia Court Courtyard, where there will also be live music.

Soul Monkey will play on Oct. 14, Jerry Byrd will play on Oct. 21, Roman Street will play on Oct. 28 and Rebecca Berry will perform on Nov. 4.

Coca Cola will be providing soft drinks every Thursday and Bama Creamery will also be offering samples.

Uptown Foley members hope these evenings will allow the community and merchants to acquaint themselves with each other and build beneficial relationships. Spratlin said she hopes that the event will help offer everyone the opportunity to come to the uptown area and meet everybody.

Current Foley Fall Market participants include Hollis Furniture and Antiques, Manning Jewelry, Foley Performing Arts Association, Magnolia Court Restaurant, Cain’s Wine Cellar and Cahall’s Deli and Catering. More vendors are expected to participate as well. Any vendors who wish to participate can find applications online at www.uptownfoley.com.

Uptown Foley could still use more sponsors. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor is asked to contact Uptown Foley.

The event is completely free except for alcohol. Spratlin said “We know that times are tight, but we want to provide a free event. We want to provide an outlet for local business owners to reach customers during times when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.”

“It will be a really good time. I think with the free music and some free tasty samples and the wine and beer for sale and children’s activity area it is going to be so much fun,” said Spratlin. “We hope people really take to it and come out and have some fun.”