Next weekend, Second Street and areas around The Depot will transform into basketball players’ and fans’ dream during the annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament Saturday and Sunday May 17-18.

However, while this has become an annual event that draws players, families and fans from around the region, this can be an important weekend for our downtown businesses as well.

With the event, the downtown area will have visitors who could be in the market for a myriad of items or gifts one of the businesses has to offer.

Many volunteers have put in months of work to plan and coordinate the event and we applaud the effort.

The event provides many positives. School age children to adults get an outlet to participate in a fun and safe environment. This also affords the opportunity to get out and be involved in a healthy activity.

If you have never had the chance to attend, we encourage you to stop downtown next weekend and make a day or a weekend of this event.

In the end, working together as a community will enhance the likelihood of this continuing to be a success for both the organizers and the downtown area businesses.