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First Fridays returns to downtown

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Greene County News Report

XENIA — First Fridays is back in downtown Xenia Aug. 7 after a successful Independence Day event.

The summer monthly event — 5-9 p.m. — has drawn record crowds and organizers hope August’s activities will keep the momentum going.

Featured activities for this month include a performance by the Average Wright Band on the courthouse lawn and the classic car cruise-in along North Detroit Street, which will once again be closed to regular traffic. In addition to the cars, there will be archery shooting and demonstrations provided by Tribe Archery. AHOP will be having a burger burn boxed meal and Craig’s Pesto Dogs will be available in the cruise-in area as well.

Silent Auction items will be available for the community to bid on at The Flower Stop, 57 W. Main St. All proceeds go directly towards covering First Fridays’ costs. A walking tour hosted by the Greene County Historical Society will begin 6:30 p.m at the courthouse; and the caboose at Xenia Station on South Detroit Street will be open to the public 5-7 p.m.

The Food and Entertainment Court will be featuring family friendly music from DJ Rob Bullen along with the Greene County Library bookmobile. Food vendors include Jimmie’s Streatery, Big E’s Southern BBQ, Cork n’ Bottle, Sugar Shack, April Jean’s Kettle Corn and Shaved Ice. Additional food locations will be the One Bistro food truck in front of its soon-to-be storefront at 87 E. Main St., Ha Ha Pizza, also on East Main Street, and Sweets Boutique on East Second Street.

There will be a number of strolling and stationary performers at various locations throughout the night including caricaturist Dennis Porter, Lucky the Clown, and Dave Davis’ Magic Show.

A fan favorite, Jungle Island Petting Zoo, will be returning at the carnival area!

A variety of vendors and local businesses will be providing games and giveaways at their booths. The Flower Stop’s Flower Happy Hour Special will be Crazy Daisy Bouquets for $3 each. Sweets Boutique will be serving summertime-themed desserts as well as a boxed lunch special including sandwich, a side, cookie and drink for $7.50. Xenia Area Community Theater and Gallery, 45 E. Second St., will offer X*ACT Trivia, a new game in which you answer either a theater or an art question for a chance to win a gift basket filled with theater and art items (including two tickets to one of its performances.) Children can express their creativity with a free art activity taught by an X*ACT Gallery artist 5-8 p.m.

X*ACT Gallery artist Tom McCarthy will create original Outer Space Planetscapes, which will also be available for purchase. Special guest artist Tom Watson will have several pieces of his art on display in the X*ACT Gallery. Xenia Shoe and Leather, 21 E. Main St will be offering 20 percent off all regular priced and in-stock merchandise. T. Lane Designs, 75 W. Main St., will be offering $5 off a purchase of $50 or more.

Blue Jacket Books, 30 S. Detroit St., will host a public book reading and signing 6 to 8 p.m. with Joseph Reitz, author of “Parkinson’s as a Spiritual Journey: Finding Forgiveness and Compassion Along the Way.” At 6 p.m. Willie’s Sports Bar and Grille, 124 Xenia Towne Square, will have Xenia’s Mavis Pearly performing on the patio.

More information is available at Xenia First Friday’s Facebook page and at xenianow.org/firstfridays​.​

Greene County News report compiled by Scott Halasz.