WILTON – Selectmen got an update Tuesday on events being planned to showcase downtown businesses and bring people together.

Third Thursday is a series of monthly evenings from May through August held on the third Thursday of each month. The focus is to bring Wilton residents together for food, fun and entertainment, Betty Shibles told the board.

The event, scheduled to begin May 21, features school children planting marigolds, art shows, a farmers market, antique cars lining the streets and square dancing, Shibles said. She came to the board to share plans and answer questions.

After Selectman Terry Brann and a couple business owners raised concerns about blocking the street off once a month for the evening, Shibles suggested working with businesses to find a space that would not inconvenience businesses.

Owners of Sassy Scizzors, Vicky and Randy Gordon, told the board their business is open on Thursday evening and they were concerned about places for clients to park. Gordon suggested holding events at Academy Hill School.

Pam Brown suggested blocking off an area around Key Bank and the monument.

While agreeing that shutting down Main Street may not be the way to do it, Selectman Russell Black said many towns are thinking outside the box to help their downtown areas.

The concept was to support and encourage traffic downtown, said board Chairman Paul Gooch. Bringing people on foot downtown may help them know what businesses are there and could bring other businesses to some empty storefronts.

“If the downtown doesn’t want it, we’ll take it somewhere else,” he said. “Academy Hill doesn’t showcase downtown businesses.”

The intention is not to be detrimental to downtown but to get people together, Shibles said as she invited Gordon and Brown to work with her.