Alive at Five Origins
- Abby Weiser
- Feb 9
- 2 min read
“Back in the day when I had a 9-5 job, I always loved Friday afternoons, finding bands, having a beer, hanging with friends, getting a bite to eat. So, we thought, why not bring that to Downtown
MHC. Let’s get people to Downtown.”
- Keri McCann, owner of Jack’s
Alive at five started as a simple idea to bring people together downtown. Keri rallied volunteers, DMCRA’s board, Tom Kies (Director of DMCRA), her husband, Jeff and the city to make this event happen.
The first stage was nothing more than a semi-truck trailer bed. (Tom Kies remembers it being “dusty and dirty.”) Katherine Davis Park was chosen as the location, with permission from the railroad, which owned the property and leased it to the City for parking. The City provided bleachers, Keri had shirts made for the volunteers, and Alive at Five was born.
At the time, selling beer and wine on municipal property was unheard of. Still, the City Council approved it. “Everybody was working together back then. Everybody wanted everything to succeed”, recalls Tom Kies. Resolutions were approved and ABC permits were issued.
Alive at 5 started as a free monthly summer concert series, with bands paid through sponsors and partners. Some of the very first sponsors were R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Company, Sammy’s Ice House, Dee Gee’s, and Twice the Ice. Needless to say, it didn’t take long for the series to grow.
Keri said, “It wasn’t a huge money maker, but it did what it was supposed to do. Bring family and friends together to enjoy a band on a Friday (or sometimes Thursday) to our growing downtown area. The businesses worked so well together to create a “new” area for groups of people to come and enjoy. And, with a water view.”
Today’s Alive at Five consists of staging, tents, vendors, and related expenses. But, the original idea remains. This free family-friendly event is meant to bring community together. It strengthens camaraderie through shared moments, conversation, and local pride, while also providing numerous opportunities for shopping, dining, and other activities for attendees in our downtown. DMC, Inc. is honored to continue this yearly tradition.
