With an Aiken city ordinance limiting the number of sidewalk sales downtown each year, the Aiken Downtown Development Association helps merchants by sponsoring two sales a year.

"You have to have a permit," said Carla Cloud, the association's executive director. "We get a blanket permit that allows everyone to participate."

The sales will be held on consecutive weekends. The annual Labor Day sidewalk sale will be Thursday through Saturday, and another sidewalk sale will be held in conjunction with Aiken's Makin' Sept. 5-6. The sales will be held during the businesses' regular hours. Ms. Cloud said she didn't know of any businesses planning to have extended hours during the sale.

The Labor Day Sidewalk Sale has been a downtown event for about 12 years, and about 20 vendors are expected to participate.

The sidewalk sales help the organization fulfill its mission of promoting downtown's economic vitality, said Ms. Cloud.

"A lot of people have the misconception that downtown is too rich. This entices the community to come down," she said.

Also, the organization's quarterly Downtown After 6 program will be held Sept. 18. Merchants will stay open after regular business hours for this event.

Plans for the event are still in the works, but Ms. Cloud said it will have an art theme.

"We hope to have an artist in each (participating) location -- and not just paintings but pottery and basket-weaving," she said. "I hope to have a nice variety of art and artists."

For more information about the events, call (803) 649-2221.