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Downtown Oregon City Association outlines 2025 events, launches 'Last Thursday' after-hours retail nights
Summary
Downtown Oregon City Association executive director Juliana Allen presented the district's 2025 event calendar and a new monthly promotion, 'Last Thursday,' encouraging retailers to extend weekday hours to attract after-work customers.
Downtown Oregon City Association Executive Director Juliana Allen said the association finalized its 2025 event calendar and is launching a monthly “Last Thursday” program to encourage retailers to stay open later on a weekday to attract after-work visitors.
Allen said the association is partnering with the city on the annual City Celebration in July and will hold spring, summer and fall wine walks, a trick-or-treat event and the holiday tree lighting. She described “Last Thursday” as a retailer-led initiative in which participating shops extend hours and list promotions on the association’s website.
The program’s pilot was held the previous Thursday and, Allen said, about 15 retailers signed up to participate. “We had, we had probably, I think it was about 15 retailers that were, signed up to be in it,” Allen said. She added several businesses reported staying open and recording higher sales that day despite poor weather and an unrelated fire in part of downtown that same evening.
Allen said the association’s goals for 2025 include more activations to support retailers who typically close by 4 p.m. and more outdoor music and activities when weather allows. She also gave a brief update on new downtown offerings, noting Watershed Café recently opened in the space previously occupied by Weinhardt’s and has seen long weekend queues.
Residents asked about downtown parking and whether meters might be removed. Allen said the association plans to advocate for a parking study after the county courthouse relocates, because that move will change daily demand. “We are going to advocate for a parking study after the courthouse moves out,” she said.
The association encouraged committee members and residents to participate in Last Thursday and upcoming wine walks; the spring wine walk is scheduled for March 20. Allen closed by inviting questions and noting retailers are booked to participate through the year.
Less critical details: Allen said retail outreach and event dates are set; the association will publish promotions on its website and continue to monitor downtown business openings and courthouse-related change in traffic.
