It was going to be great: “For one day only, Beverly Road turns into Candyland. Restaurants, retailers and businesses bring their best confections and face off to see who wins first, second, and third places at the first-ever Beverly Road Sweet Walk.” (Mt. Lebanon Magazine, April 2020)

The Sweet Walk was scheduled for April 4, 2020. The Sweet Walk never happened. You know what the rest of the year was like.

“Even before COVID, we were looking at ways to bring more people to Beverly Road,” said Jennifer Bibb-Hisdorf, manager of the Beverly and Washington Road branches of WesBanco. “Now that things are reopening we want to make sure people come back.” Bibb-Hisdorf and Gina Florez, owner of the Paper Reign stationery store, began working with other members of the Beverly Road Professional Association to come up with ideas for things that would keep Beverly Road front of mind when people started getting out and doing things again.

One of the first things they came up with was a series of First Friday events for June 4, July 2 and August 6, similar to the successful Washington Road street parties, which are delayed because of construction on the $3.86 million Vibrant Uptown streetscape project.

First Fridays on Beverly feature vendors, things for kids to do, a DJ at one end of the block, DJ Jenufine, and live music at the other end, by the Mingo Creek Band. Even after First Fridays return to Washington, the Beverly event will not compete. Hours are 5 to 7, giving people a chance to fit both street parties into their Friday nights, once the Uptown dates return.

A new Facebook page, Beverly Shops 15216, has the latest scoop on other events and promotions that are happening on Beverly. Florez says they are thinking about something in the fall, “something warming, like with soup or chili.”

Also in the planning stages is a revamp to Beverly Brite Nite, the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, which usually happens the first Thursday in December. Right now it’s scheduled for a week later, on December 11.

“We’re trying to gain some momentum back, for people who are looking to get out again,” Florez said. “It’s been a rough year.”