Downtown Beaufort trick-or-treat and Christmas parade were in question. Here’s the plan to keep them going.

A longstanding Beaufort nonprofit organization made its pitch this week to continue running some of Beaufort’s popular holiday events, but it needs some cash.

Main Street Beaufort, now affiliated with the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, is asking the city for $20,000 in hospitality tax money to help operate its downtown events, including a Halloween trick-or-treat on Bay Street and holiday weekend in December that includes a Christmas parade and tree-lighting. The question of how the events would be paid for and operated came up as the city finalized its current budget in June.

“These events are not large revenue generators, but they are large providers of goodwill,” Cliff Mrkvicka, chairman of the board of directors for Main Street and the chamber, told City Council on Tuesday. “... This is not a funding request; this is a request for an investment in our community.”

Main Street estimated a total of $31,675 to staff, insure and market trick-or-treat, the annual Christmas celebrations, spring and fall art events and other events promoting downtown businesses throughout the year. The estimate also includes $8,500 for a “community pride campaign.”

The organization, which has served downtown more than 30 years, came under the chamber’s umbrella in 2016. The move came after the city ended what had been a regular funding stream and poor weather wiped out the Beaufort Shrimp Festival, one of Main Street’s primary money generators.

The chamber will operate the Shrimp Festival in October and Taste of Beaufort next spring, two of Main Street’s money-making events that also come with large upfront costs. Main Street has $111 in its bank account, Mrkvicka revealed Tuesday.

“Main Street today could not produce those (larger) events,” he said.

The next step will be for city staff to draft a contract with Main Street and the chamber, tying money for the events to measurable results, Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling said.

Chamber and Main Street officials said they want Main Street to eventually stand again on its own, with a plan including ideas to grow business downtown.

“We certainly as an organization see some huge opportunities for Main Street,” chamber board member Leigh Copeland said.

In the meantime, an organization of downtown business owners has formed to advocate for their interests. The merchants’ early focus will be on helping jump start First Fridays, a Main Street event promoting businesses with live music and drinks on the first Friday of each month.

The new organization doesn’t intend to replace Main Street, said Panini’s owner Paul Thompson, the group’s treasurer.

“We’re there to be a voice for downtown Beaufort merchants,” said president Eric Thibault, of Thibault Gallery on Bay Street. “Because honestly, we didn’t feel like we had a voice.”

This story was originally published August 2, 2017 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Downtown Beaufort trick-or-treat and Christmas parade were in question. Here’s the plan to keep them going.."