Sixty consecutive months, thousands of participants, four dedicated coordinators and more phone calls, bitten nails and checks with the local weather app than you’d believe — First Friday, the downtown street party birthed by ArtsinStark and the Special Improvement District, turns 5 years old on Friday, July 6.
Good Hours will perform at Buzzbin.
You can have your cake and eat it too by stopping at the brand new and bright yellow INFO TENT on the corner of 4th St and Cleveland Avenue, near the main stage featuring jazz musicians and a real dance floor that will keep you on your feet all night.
Walk over to Creative Ohio and take part in an interactive art project, stop at Translations to see the installation by Natalie Dunham, then the work of Heather Bullach, next door, at Anderson Creative. Cross the street to shop the sales at 2nd April, then, ease on down the road to the Palace where the cast of North Canton Playhouse’s production of CHICAGO will be on stage, singing and dancing prior to the free movie showing of Mirror Mirror at 7:30. Don’t forget to look around and on the ground – as seven chalk artists, draw your attention to their creations.
Kids will enjoy special art projects from Silver Star Youth Theatre, Players Guild Theatre, Massillon Museum, Habitat for Humanity and many more. Elec Simon will offer a double dose of birthday bashing as his drumming talents arrive at the Stark Main Library at 5 p.m. and then on the Courthouse Plaza at 7 p.m. The Love Canton House Band, featuring Kevin Emleton will play at the Motter & Meadows parking lot, along with The Scenic Route, Canton Idols and the Chris Winthrop Guitar Academy – offering an evening of entertainment. Buzzbin hosts Good Hours and Lare Sattler will be performing at Subway.
And like any party worth its salt — popcorn, funnel cakes, cupcakes, ice cream and lemonade stands will be there to serve, along with all downtown restaurants like Lucca, Napoli’s, Benders and Arcadia Grille and warehouse partners, Pete’s Grille – hosting 7T7 on their outdoor patio. Don’t forget to see what’s cooking at Articulture Unlimited, Evolution Arts and Canton Glassworks – all open for business and ready to celebrate.
Download the July 6 First Friday map and more info at CantonFirstFriday.com. First Friday is sponsored by Stark Community Foundation and presented by the downtown Canton Special improvement District and ArtsinStark.
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There’s actually been 6 coordinators! Jon Tisivich did it when it 1st began. Then Sarah Shumaker and Kelly Bah. I did it for a year when Kelly had her baby. Then Marci Saling and now Tricia Ostertag. Plus FF has always had a wonderful group of volunteers and ArtsinStark & Chamber staff members pitching in–without whom First Fridays would not have been the success that it is!