Downtown Gainesville is getting a fresh start this weekend with the grand opening of Bazaar47, a third-space and event venue that officially throws open its doors on August 22. To mark the occasion, the venue is throwing The Big Bazaar Block Party, taking over SW 2nd Street from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with vendors, food, and live music.
The space itself isn't brand new to the Gainesville arts scene. It was previously known as How Bazar, a creative hub co-owned by five local artists. Earlier this summer, on July 20, sole ownership passed to Laila Fakhoury — one of the original five — and a new name followed. Fakhoury told News4JAX that the rebrand reflects the direction she had always been steering the space: "Being the sole owner of [Bazaar47] means that more of what I was doing in the space is being represented now."
The grand opening block party also features a Red Bull Dance Your Style Showcase and Dance Battle, giving attendees a chance to either watch or compete. The competition ties into a bigger moment for the region: the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals are scheduled for Tampa on September 19, with tickets available for $10 using the discount code BAZAAR.
RSVPs for the block party and sign-ups for the dance battle are available through Bazaar47's social channels and website. This story was originally reported by News4JAX.
