New VisitAKY director outlines August events, September vintage show and strong early engagement

Celeste Coombs, the newly appointed executive director of VisitAKY, introduced herself to the Board of City Commissioners July 24 and previewed tourism and downtown events planned for the coming weeks.

Coombs said VisitAKY will host three makers’ markets on the square in August, continuing a program that draws local artisans. She announced a Sunset Scenes movie night on the riverfront scheduled for Aug. 23; staff reported attendance of “over 715 people per our Placer app” at the previous riverfront screening. Coombs also described an AKY Vintage Antique Show planned for Sept. 6 that will use outdoor square space and the climate-controlled Cameo arcade for temperature-sensitive items; early social analytics indicated strong interest.

Coombs said next Friday’s First Friday will precede a concert weekend at the Paramount featuring Trace Adkins and predicted a busy weekend downtown. The new director closed by thanking commissioners and saying she looked forward to working with the city to promote events and downtown activity.