Meet Me on Market: A New Kind of Downtown Energy Takes Root in Parkersburg
Photos by Brooklyn of Dirt Candy Photography
On the evening of May 16, the blocks of Market Street in downtown Parkersburg came alive with community and connection. The sidewalks filled slowly but steadily with families, friends, and neighbors who weren’t rushing to a show or dodging traffic. Lingerers, wanderers, the curious, and the caffeinated. All drawn to a new kind of event, one designed not to dazzle but to welcome. This was the first Meet Me on Market.
The brainchild of Jen Allman, owner of Sips Coffee Truck, Meet Me on Market was less about spectacle and more about atmosphere. “My vision for this event was to help bring life back to downtown,” Allman said. “Not just with foot traffic or sales but with energy. With connection. I wanted to create something that made people want to be downtown again, not just pass through it. We weren’t trying to throw a big production. We wanted something that felt approachable and honest. Meet Me on Market came from that simple hope that if we gave people a space to connect, they would.”
What resulted was a warm and unfussy celebration of local culture and community. Visitors wandered from shop to shop, grabbed a coffee or a glass of wine, and let the music and May breeze guide them block to block. Local artists and makers popped up at Highmark Plaza as part of the first Simply Kin Mini Market.
“It wasn’t flashy. It was warm, casual, and full of little moments that made you want to stay,” said Allman.
The event was coordinated by Allman in partnership with the Parkersburg Art Center, whose Managing Director, Jessie Siefert, was thrilled with buzz it generated. “I was just hoping for nice weather and to see folks of all ages out enjoying what downtown Parkersburg has to offer,” she said. “With the weather being iffy and this being our first time doing it, I didn’t really know what to expect. But everyone who took part was really happy with the turnout and the buzz it created. Our shop was bustling, gallery artists getting the attention they deserve, and it was nice having people stop into the PAC to pick up their PODA cup of wine or beer and head back out to explore further.”
“It’s not about a headliner or a big draw. It’s about the feeling you get just being here.”
One of the key principles behind the event is that it doesn’t close off the streets or set up a mainstage - deliberately so. Instead, Meet Me on Market invites people to explore the downtown as it is. “Someone asked why we didn’t close the streets,” Siefert explained. “The reason is we want folks to walk the blocks and experience downtown as it is - just with a little extra festiveness. These restaurants, shops, galleries, and coffee trucks are here all week long. The real goal is to build a community that supports these small businesses and enjoys spending time together downtown.”
That focus on casual, organic interaction sets Meet Me on Market apart from other local events. “It’s not about a headliner or a big draw,” said Allman. “It’s about the feeling you get just being here. There’s no stage, no wristbands, no pressure to ‘make a night of it.’ Just an open invite to come downtown, wander around, and maybe stay a little longer than you planned.”
And stay they did.
Allman described the atmosphere on that Friday night as nothing short of transformative. “It felt like a shift,” she said. “We live in a town where downtown usually isn’t the place to be. That’s what made Friday night feel different. The sidewalks weren’t just full—they were alive. Music floated through the air, and you could feel this shared surprise that something was actually happening down here.”
As dusk settled over the Ohio River, people lingered—laughing with neighbors, browsing handmade goods, sipping something local. “Turns out, the magic wasn’t in what we planned,” Allman reflected. “It was in the people who came and how they made downtown feel alive again.”
The event’s success came not from any one organization, but from a coalition of believers. “Downtown businesses said yes. Vendors stepped up. City staff helped. Friends volunteered just because they believed in it,” said Allman. “It’s been a patchwork of people saying, ‘What if we try this?’ or ‘Hey, I can help with that.’ It wasn’t handed to us—we built it together.”
That spirit of collaboration is already fueling future plans. The next Meet Me on Market is set for June 20—coinciding with West Virginia Day—and both Siefert and Allman say to expect new vendors, creative surprises, and the same welcoming energy. “Each Third Friday brings something new,” said Allman. “You might stumble on live music, sidewalk games, a cold brew you didn’t know you needed, or something completely unplanned that makes your night.”
And if you’re wondering whether there’s room for you in this growing movement, the answer is a resounding yes. “This only works because people bring their time, ideas, and heart to the table,” said Allman. “Whether you’re a small business, a food vendor, or someone with a creative spark—we’d love to hear from you.”
With the success of the May event and the enthusiasm already building for June, Meet Me on Market is shaping up to be more than just a monthly series. It’s a sign of what’s possible when a community decides to show up for itself.
“Maybe we’re onto something,” said Allman. “Maybe we’re building something real.”