Cars abandoned King Street on Sunday, resulting in one of the busiest days the area has seen in some time. We’re guessing the stretch from Calhoun to Queen hasn’t been so void of vehicles since Hurricane Hugo, when anyone in their right mind high-tailed it to higher ground.
Shoppers, families with strollers, and cyclists swarmed the asphalt, reveling at the chance to play in the street without getting reprimanded. With more space and time to enjoy the atmosphere, we noticed architectural details that had escaped out attention on previous car- and sidewalk-bound excursions.
Shops opened their doors wide, offering specials, while some restaurants even lugged tables out onto the street for the ultimate people-watching experience. Vendors like Street Foods, Dellz Deli, and Queen Street Grocery set up tents along the street, musicians performed on a stage in front of the Riviera Theatre, and a girl in a big bridal gown looked on.
While some expressed disappointment that the event didn’t have as much of a street fair-vibe as they’d hoped, we love that Do the Charleston allowed us to slow down and enjoy one of our city’s brightest districts. If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll be able to experience a car-free King Street again in the near future.
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