The First Friday celebrations each month have been highly anticipated events for more than 20 years. This Friday’s event promises to be an extra special one.
August is the month Lycoming Arts Celebrates Williamsport Lycoming Arts Council/LYCOMING ARTS celebrates 63 years (founded 1960), and they also celebrate 23 years of presenting Williamsport First Friday. August is also the month they invite the Kiwanis Club of Williamsport to participate through their offering of the Kiwanis Kids Carnival. This has been a great addition to their August event for many years and is always highly anticipated. Kids, families, and all-around fun, food, and vendors.
“Lycoming Arts is so excited for an unforgettable Williamsport First Friday! Join us downtown to celebrate the vibrant spirit of our community. Enjoy live music, delicious street food, incredible art, and endless fun! Don’t miss out on this epic gathering that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime!” Beth Armanda. Lycoming Arts VP & Williamsport First Friday co-chair told Webb Weekly.
This event continues to grow with craft and food vendors, with over 100 pre-registered for August. They will again have eight food trucks dotted through the event. In addition to these, they continue to host “A Taste of Williamsport,” featuring 17 local restaurants offering small plates and tastings, all priced at $10 or less. This is the perfect way to “sample” the culinary happenings in our downtown area, all while strolling through the vendors and listening to great music.
Speaking of music, they have three bands performing for your listening enjoyment. On the Pine Street Stage: Lynn & Farley 5; on the CAC Stage: Better Than Nothing (acoustic trio playing Rock to Country); on William Street, The Vandals. So there will be something for everyone.
Lycoming Arts Gallery takes advantage of the crowds they bring and hosts a reception for both a Featured Artist and College Town Artist. These are open to all, and everyone is encouraged to stop in at 46 West Fourth Street to check out the local talent.
This month, the Featured Artist is Ken Cobb. Ken is an Assistant Professor of Studio Art for the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania at the Mansfield campus. Cobb states, “I have always been attracted to the challenge of Realism in my artwork. I try to liven up my arrangements with some form of allegory or narrative, often playfully suggested through juxtapositions.”
Our College Town artist also comes from Mansfield this month. They will show Tom Powell, an artist, and designer, who himself is a recent graduate of Mansfield and was highly recommended by Dr. Ken Cobb. In the opinion of First Friday organizers, this will be a great show.
Christopher Ring will be displaying his artwork at Lamar Park on the corner of Market St. and West Fourth St. He notes, “Through my commission work with Catskill Comics I’ve drawn a lot of Batman pieces and Bat Family characters. I am currently redrawing the 1966 Barris Batmobile, as the piece I did at the Ford National show is in a collectors sketchbook.”
Also at Lamar Park, be sure to catch Tom Woodruff Jr. displaying a replica 1966 Batmobile!
And finally, this is the LAST CHANCE to purchase a raffle ticket for the Rick Mahonski piece. Tickets are $20; a winner will be drawn at 8 p.m. on August 4. Winners will be announced at Pine Street Stage. Please remember to shop the local merchants too. Most are open late to help celebrate Williamsport First Friday.
As always, First Friday hours are from 5-9 p.m. the first Friday of every month through October. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and for more information, or to become a vendor, visit williamsportfirstfriday.org.
