Third Thursdays

Partying in Saline County has become even easier the past several years with the addition of event centers and other businesses in the area. For the City of Benton, Third Thursday has only added to the fun, bringing together thousands of attendees each month.

“The freedom of being outside and its being a free event for the family is the biggest draw,” said Matt Thibault, Marketing and Special Events Coordinator for the City of Benton. The event started in 2018 after many of the downtown business owners formed a partnership offering free family fun to area residents.

“They wanted a way to get people into Downtown Benton and into their shops,” Thibault said. “They came up with Third Thursday, which was smaller then—food trucks, fun, and shopping. “It became a little too big, Covid-19 hit, and that’s when the City took over. That was about 2020-21, and we have been going with it ever since.” Since the pandemic, Third Thursday has grown each year, becoming an event that runs once a month for six months beginning in April.

“I don’t know what would have happened if it hadn’t been for Covid,” Thibault said. “It helped more than it hurt as far as growing, because people could get out. Covid shut everything down from the inside.”

Each month, weather permitting, Third Thursday welcomes thousands of visitors.

“Last year we averaged about 4,500 people each Thursday,” Thibault said. “We would have smashed the record for the most in a year, but we had to cancel in August due to extreme heat. We only did five months.”

The record is roughly 22,000 attendees for a single year of Third Thursday, and last month saw more than 5,000. Thibault said the event will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest Hot Wheels track during the next event, set for May 15. 

“We will have all of the normal stuff, but it is our Kids Night so we will have Power Wheel races, and the kids can bring their own and race them against other kids,” Thibault said. “Then we attempt to break the record for the longest track. 

“The current record is 2,606 feet and 10 inches. Our plan is to go to 2,700 feet, which puts us over half a mile. The track will start at and wrap around the courthouse before ending at Stated Apparel.”

Thibault added that while the event has grown each year, the schedule works well for those attending. “It is not super late and is over with by about 8:30 p.m., so if you have children, you can get there about 6 p.m. and stay an hour or so and still have time to get home early,” he added.

With shopping taking up city blocks in the Downtown Benton area, attendees can visit numerous local businesses in a short time and often shop at a discount.

“You have a really good chance to see something you haven’t seen. With the shopping, the expansion of our food trucks and improving our bands the past few years (which has been the hardest part, figuring out what bands everyone likes), it’s a matter of everybody wanting to come out and have a good time, blow off some steam, and let the kids run around,” Thibault said.

Despite all the more recent attractions that make Third Thursday a success, Thibault added that the food trucks still take the top award for most popular. “The food trucks are still a big draw,” he added. “I see people more excited about trying to find something different to eat that is not around all the time. The Space Walk is always huge. But it is all about being with family and that environment.”

Other popular events include Baggo, the beer garden, and the Kid Zone. Becoming a vendor during the event is simple as well, with those wishing to participate having to apply with only a small fee or no fee at all.

“They can email me at matt.thibault@bentonar.org, and we have a vendor form that they will fill out,” he said. “For informational vendors, such as banks and roofing companies that aren’t selling anything at the event, there is no cost to have a booth. If you are selling something like crafts, you do require different applications and those are $10 each night. 

“Food trucks are $50 each night. We are still the best deal in the festival game when it comes to that and being able to recoup your $10 or $50 fast.” Third Thursday takes place the third Thursday of each month, weather permitting. For more information regarding Third Thursday, visit www.bentonar.org/events.

“We are constantly expanding and looking for ideas,” Thibault said. “We are looking for vendors and we would love to be able to shut down the Farmer’s Market and part of the road past the Main Street Market. We are looking to expand and grow, so if someone is interested in helping do that, they can email me.”