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It’s official, summer vacation has ended, with students at Grace Christian Academy and Decatur County Schools heading back to class this week, and students at Spring Creek Charter Academy having resumed last week. Local kids were offered one last bit of summer fun over the weekend, with Avie Lou & Brother holding a Back to School Bash on East Water Street. Games, bounce houses provided by Skate Towne, as well as performances by the BHS, BMS, GCA and SCCA cheer squads, and BHS and GCA dance squads were some of the entertainment offered. Kitchen South and The Robin’s Nest offered food to attendees, while the various shops along East Water Street were also open, offering back to school discounts.

Kenzie Merchant, owner of Avie Lou & Brother, had put on an Easter event downtown previously, with this being her first Back to School Bash. According to Merchant, she and other shop owners on East Water Street have been looking for activities that both get community involvement, as well as to draw traffic downtown.

“I wanted to bring in some school spirit,” Merchant explained, “so we invited the surrounding schools.” This was how the school cheer and dance teams came to perform, as well as how Rock the Cougar, GCA’s mascot, came to visit. According to Merchant, there are plans to hold another Back to School Bash next year and involve the BHS band as well.

“East Water Street, we are a part of the Square, but we’re not directly on the Square,” Merchant said in conclusion, “and so we just try to bring people down Water Street and show them what we have to offer. I personally enjoy putting these together, because I have two small children, and any kind of community family-fun event, we really enjoy. I know myself, along with the Water Street shops, enjoy that, and seeing everybody come together and have fun.”