Food, live music, children's activities and adult beverage samples: It's First Fridays!
GALESBURG — Looking for a "fun and relaxing" way to kick off the weekend? The Seminary Street Merchants Association invites you to the initial First Fridays event of the season from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday in the first block of South Seminary Street.
First Fridays — which take place the first Friday of the month in June, July, August and September — originated in June 2008 and have continued every year since, with the exception of 2020 when the event took a break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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"We just wanted to do an event that allowed the community a night to come downtown, relax and have fun," said Phil Dickinson, owner of Landmark Cafe & Creperie and a longtime organizer of First Fridays.
For First Fridays, the first block of South Seminary Street is closed to traffic from Main Street through the intersection of Seminary and Simmons streets.
In addition to most Seminary Street merchants remaining open for the evening, the street fair event includes food and beverage options, live music and children's activities.
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Jera and the Absoluts, one of central Illinois' premier party bands — playing favorites in classic rock, rock, blues, and reggae — will be the musical entertainment Friday. Children's activities will be provided by Discovery Depot, and G&M Distributors will be the adult beverage sponsor, offering free samples for those 21 and older.
The sponsor of the first First Fridays event of 2022 is Tompkins State Bank.
Among the Seminary Street merchants offering food or beverage on the street Friday will be Innkeeper's Fresh Roasted Coffee, Craft on Seminary Street, Landmark Cafe & Creperie and The Packinghouse. Also open will be The Carriage House bakery, Baked pizza, Sprinkle & Spoon Allergy-Conscious Treats and JT'S Carmelkorn Station.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair as seating is limited.
The remaining dates for First Fridays are July 1, Aug. 5 and Sept. 2.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Galesburg, IL's First Fridays, music, food return to Seminary Street
