GREENVILLE – Summer is here and temperatures have been soaring. Let’s celebrate the season with the Park National Bank Heat Wave First Friday. Due to the holiday weekend, the First Friday event has been moved to the second Friday of the month on Friday, July 9.
This will be a great opportunity to come downtown to shop, dine, have a little fun or enjoy some music. In addition to First Friday events, Darke County Center for the Arts will host Barbecue & Blues and downtown Greenville will come alive with people and activities.
The Park National Bank Heat Wave First Friday will run from 6-9 p.m. and will stretch from YOLO Park to Rotary Park.
Darke County Parks (DCP) has been present for several of our events this year to display some of their animals, but this time they will be doing a few special programs. The Parks’ naturalists are known for their work in the schools and their summer camps where they educate kids of all ages. They will be bringing a few of their programs to the Park National Bank Heat Wave First Friday.
Join DCP on the Courthouse lawn for three special events – Animals of Darke County Meet & Greet (6:15 p.m.), Bicycle Safety (7:15 p.m.) and Kayaking Safety (8:15 p.m.).
If you have a child that likes to ride a bicycle, get there early. DCP will be handing out free bicycle helmets while they last.
DCP will also be working with our local businesses to host Animal Tracks. Children are invited to go to these businesses and make a “rubbing” with a provided crayon. Collect all of the tracks and bring them back to the courthouse lawn where the naturalist will present them with a prize.
The fun may begin with DCP, but that isn’t where it ends. There will be a lot more to do. Bring you swim trunks or clothes you don’t mind getting wet. Enjoy the water feature at YOLO Park or participate in some of our water games. Main Street Greenville will have over 1,000 water balloons available for a water balloon toss beginning at 6:30 p.m. Grab a friend or a parent and line-up to see who can toss a water balloon the furthest. There will also be bubbles, sidewalk chalk and more.
Who is the fastest cookie eater? We will find out 6 p.m. on Friday, July 9 when Beanz Buttercream Bakery hosts its cookie eating contest. They already have their 12 contestants picked, but it is going to be a lot of fun to see who wins this high calorie, fast-paced event. The event will take place at the bakery.
Music will fill the air throughout downtown, which means you won’t miss a thing happening at DCCA’s Barbecue & Blue. If you are attending that event, grab a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) cup and head downtown.
If you need a refreshing treat, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will be handing out ice cream beginning at 6 p.m. while supplies last. Make sure you stop by and see them on Fourth Street.
Keep watching Main Street Greenville’s social media for additional events and activities.
Tickets for Barbecue & Blues are available at the Welcome Center, 421 S. Broadway, Greenville.
First Friday events aim to bring people downtown during evening hours to enjoy activities, demonstrations, food and music in a beautiful historic setting. The monthly event is presented by Main Street Greenville – a non-profit organization committed to stimulating and supporting revitalization efforts, historic preservation and economic growth in historic Downtown Greenville. To learn more, visit www.MainStreetGreenville.orgtheir Facebook page. You can contact them at 937-548-4998 or info@mainstreetgreenville.org.