With early fall seemingly prime time for a wine stroll, a downtown business group has scheduled its Third Annual Sip & Stroll for Saturday, Sept. 14. Hours for the event are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

According to organizers, the Sip & Stroll is “a free community event put on by the Downtown Riverbank Business Coalition” to encourage folks to check out all the great things in the downtown area. They point out it’s “an opportunity to meet the local business owners while enjoying free refreshments.” Residents and shoppers are invited to stop by the businesses, sip wine and nibble on snacks provided at no cost.

Also featured will be free entertainment, along with local craft vendors and fun for all ages.

The Downtown Riverbank Business Coalition is a group of business owners in downtown Riverbank who have joined together to showcase what the area has to offer and are pooling forces to improve it in any way they can.

Member businesses are mostly located on Santa Fe Street, including Kiwi’s Custom Guns at 3332 Santa Fe St.; Soul Patch Tattoo at 3324 Santa Fe; Glam Hair Salon, 3318 Santa Fe; Farmers Insurance, 3313 Santa Fe; Pizza Plus, 3327 Santa Fe; TSW Financial Tax Service, 3218 Santa Fe; Stuff & Things Art Studio, 3220 Santa Fe; Get Toasted, 3308 Santa Fe; Coffee Bruin Café, 3010 Santa Fe; Bruce’s Barber Shop at 3342 Santa Fe; and Riverbank Cannabis Co., at 6609 Third St.

Similar efforts were mounted by a group of businesses about 10 years ago, mostly in downtown, organized as the Riverbank Business Association. They put together a number of downtown events, including a music event called Blues and Bibs, an Ice Cream Social, and Greenride, a vehicle based event.