Friday a first for Waynesburg event
Hula-hoopers will have an opportunity to compete Friday in downtown Waynesburg.
This ad produced for the movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth” shows how dimensional chalk art can be.
Attendees of past Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful downtown events enjoy learning about llamas.
WAYNESBURG – Trying to find family entertainment this Friday? Look no further than downtown Waynesburg for the kickoff of the 1st Fridays series presented by Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful.
Building on the success of its past summer events and Christmas downtown open houses, WP&B will offer three 1st Fridays for 2013: June 7, July 5 and Aug. 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
This Friday will be Flashback Friday with oldies music from Greaser Doug Wilson, professional hula-hooper Wendy Reviota, bubblegum-blowing, hula hoop and costume contests. Classic car cruisers are encouraged to bring their rides to the event.
The July 5 event will be Rock the Chalk Friday, with a sidewalk chalk-art contest, sidewalk chalk coloring for all attendees, free hair chalking and a performance by rock band “Local” on the courthouse veranda.
On Aug. 2, it will be Foodie Friday, with strolling musicians, gourmet foods and Moore’s award-winning hot dogs.
Event chairwoman Karen Calvert said the idea for 1st Fridays was suggested a few years ago by committee member Eric Moore. Moore told Calvert to look at the website for Goshen, Ind., and what they were doing with First Fridays.
“Goshen holds First Fridays practically every month out of the year, except maybe January and February,” Calvert said. “We feel that the people of Waynesburg and Greene County needed something more consistent to get them in the habit of staying in town on a Friday than just the one summer and one winter event.”
Calvert said the future plan is to grow 1st Fridays to encompass more of the year, like Goshen.
“We didn’t start talking about this until March, so there wasn’t a lot of time. I told my committee I was leaving it up to them if they thought it was too much to undertake. They were all onboard,” she said. “I figured if my committee was there then the town will be. I am very, very, much in love with my committee. They do a wonderful job and are very devoted to Waynesburg.”
Calvert said ideas began to roll in, and the committee members started networking to make them happen. As they attended various festivals and events around the area, business cards were exchanged and requests to attend WP&B 1st Fridays were issued. The response was very positive, according to Calvert. With activities lined up, WP&B began talking to downtown merchants, restaurants and non-profits.
“We are encouraging street sales from our retailers. We suggested that they dress up their shops, put lights out, bubble machines, whatever they want to do to boost sales,” she said. “We are also welcoming nonprofits to set up in town. It is an opportunity to help the library, food bank, museum, etc., if they come out.”
The Greene County Humane Society has already committed to selling cotton candy at the event, according to Calvert.
“That really helps them. It might be a couple hundred dollars they wouldn’t get this week otherwise,” Calvert said. “We’ll give them (non-profits) the spot set-up, and then it is up to them to promote what they plan to do.”
Calvert said the event wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of Consol Energy, which also sponsored the 2012 Holiday Open House.
“We really appreciate them coming on board for another event. With their help and the county helping with advertising, we’ve had no trouble pulling it all together,” Calvert said. “Our mayor will be bringing his shaved ice business out for each of the 1st Fridays. I really want him to have a good year, being his first year as mayor. We also will have wine tasting for our August 1st Friday and beer tasting for the June event.”
Calvert said she hopes that by including the Waynesburg Farmers’ Market vendors on 1st Fridays, it will have the added benefit of making the market more known.
“My hope is that it brings out people to the farmers’ market that didn’t even know it existed,” she said. “We are just trying to do a lot of really fun stuff that makes the downtown a regular destination.”
For more information on how to participate in 1st Fridays, contact Calvert at 724-344-1303 or the Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce at 724-627-5926.