First Friday crowd inflates in August
Balloon event proved to be popular
The hot air balloon in the City Hall parking lot was a hit at First Friday. Photos by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
Grace, George and Eddie Gale showed off their balloon hats.
Walking in Circles rocked College Street during First Friday.
WADSWORTH – Ever since First Fridays began back in January, the folks at Main Street Wadsworth have been happy with the high rates of attendance.
Even in five-degree weather, these monthly downtown events seem to attract people to the downtown area in droves.
But the hot air balloon themed First Friday event that took place Aug. 3 seemed to have attracted the largest crowd of all.
A portion of College Street was blocked off and participants could get an up-close look at the baskets where passengers ride in a hot air balloon. Wadsworth’s hometown band, Walking in Circles, rocked the crowd nearby. In City Hall’s parking lot, a hot air balloon was inflated, giving people of all ages an up-close look at the entire balloon. Kids enjoyed stepping inside the basket to see what it was all about.
“This First Friday appears to be a huge success,” said Adrianne Krauss, executive director of Main Street Wadsworth. “It is more of a crowd than we have ever seen. We have 30 downtown businesses participating and they continue to participate, which is how we know it is working.”
Krauss’ new assistant, Kristy Doyle, attended the event for the first time as a Main Street Wadsworth staff member.
“But my family and I have come to First Fridays multiple times before this,” Doyle said. “It’s amazing to see the team of volunteers put this together and each time I have been in a different shop or a different restaurant.”
Krauss said that these events seem to not only give residents a chance to visit downtown and celebrate the community, but they also prove to be a big boost for downtown businesses.
“People come down and say ‘Oh I’ve never shopped here before’ or ‘I didn’t know this business was here,’” Krauss said. “I heard yesterday that The Bookshelf has doubled their sales because of the new attention this is bringing in.”
Councilor Tom Stugmyer, who is a member of Main Street Wadsworth and who led the volunteer team that put on this month’s event, said he estimates between 2,000 and 2,500 people attended the event.
Stugmyer said he worked with folks from the airport to make the event happen after seeing how popular Balloons Over Wadsworth at Wadsworth Municipal Airport was last year.
“This event has basically been in the works for a year,” he said.
Krauss added these events wouldn’t be possible without the Main Street board of directors and the multitude of volunteers who donate their time and energy to First Fridays. She said anyone who is interested in volunteering at future First Friday events can reach out to her or find more information on Main Street Wadsworth’s website. She said more volunteers are always welcome and needed.
Even in five-degree weather, these monthly downtown events seem to attract people to the downtown area in droves.
But the hot air balloon themed First Friday event that took place Aug. 3 seemed to have attracted the largest crowd of all.
A portion of College Street was blocked off and participants could get an up-close look at the baskets where passengers ride in a hot air balloon. Wadsworth’s hometown band, Walking in Circles, rocked the crowd nearby. In City Hall’s parking lot, a hot air balloon was inflated, giving people of all ages an up-close look at the entire balloon. Kids enjoyed stepping inside the basket to see what it was all about.
“This First Friday appears to be a huge success,” said Adrianne Krauss, executive director of Main Street Wadsworth. “It is more of a crowd than we have ever seen. We have 30 downtown businesses participating and they continue to participate, which is how we know it is working.”
Krauss’ new assistant, Kristy Doyle, attended the event for the first time as a Main Street Wadsworth staff member.
“But my family and I have come to First Fridays multiple times before this,” Doyle said. “It’s amazing to see the team of volunteers put this together and each time I have been in a different shop or a different restaurant.”
Krauss said that these events seem to not only give residents a chance to visit downtown and celebrate the community, but they also prove to be a big boost for downtown businesses.
“People come down and say ‘Oh I’ve never shopped here before’ or ‘I didn’t know this business was here,’” Krauss said. “I heard yesterday that The Bookshelf has doubled their sales because of the new attention this is bringing in.”
Councilor Tom Stugmyer, who is a member of Main Street Wadsworth and who led the volunteer team that put on this month’s event, said he estimates between 2,000 and 2,500 people attended the event.
Stugmyer said he worked with folks from the airport to make the event happen after seeing how popular Balloons Over Wadsworth at Wadsworth Municipal Airport was last year.
“This event has basically been in the works for a year,” he said.
Krauss added these events wouldn’t be possible without the Main Street board of directors and the multitude of volunteers who donate their time and energy to First Fridays. She said anyone who is interested in volunteering at future First Friday events can reach out to her or find more information on Main Street Wadsworth’s website. She said more volunteers are always welcome and needed.
