The event “Clematis by Night” turned 30 last month, uniting people and local arts from all generations.
Clematis, the main street of downtown West Palm Beach, organizes an event every year in which local artists are provided a stage to perform on Thursdays throughout the month of June, and people are invited to gather and have fun around the CityPlace. This year, the event concludes its 30th anniversary.
When this initiative began 30 years ago, it was perhaps more common to see groups of people gather to enjoy a show; but it’s a reality that certain customs have been lost with the passage of time. However, it seems that Clematis by Night is immune to this generational evolution, since week after week every June, we see young and old gather to socialize, enjoy the downtown area, and the musical arts that this street offers.
“We love coming here as a family,” said attendee Marta Rodriguez. “It’s a great opportunity to disconnect from our routines.”
And beyond the continued sense of community, this event is a gateway for the county to help local artists. Outside of occasional karaoke or performances organized by the bars, there are few opportunities for people who love singing to be offered a stage to perform.
This year, a singer performed as Elvis Presley on June 26 and although the singer is well-known in the country, the vast majority of his songs are not heard outside his circle of fans. Morgan Rossi, a young guy who was at the event, commented that he never “streamed his music before,” but was still having fun with the performance provided.
After 30 years of growing success, Palm Beach County demonstrated that organizing weekly events and turning them into a tradition isn’t an ambitious plan. And it’s not necessary to invest tons of money in the executions; but to just appeal to the concept of identity in a smart and local approach. Clematis by Night closed its 30th anniversary with a resounding success, showing itself as a tradition that promises to endure over time.
