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Family Fun

Kids First Friday offers free activities for area families

First Friday in Williamsport is all about taking in the scenes of the city, visiting the open art exhibits, enjoying live music and grabbing a bit to eat and drink at one of the original eateries and breweries. But once a year, the festivities draw an extra special crowd — youngsters!

In the parking lot located between the Bullfrog Brewery and Woodlands Bank, along West Fourth St., and including the area in front of the Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., 22 vendors set up to offer games, prizes and activities for kids ranging from infant and toddler to tweens.

In its 10th year, Kids First Friday this year, set for 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4, is coordinated by John Confer of the Newberry Lions Club, Mike Barclay of the Williamsport Kiwanis Club (who also is the president and co-founder of Kids First Friday) and Tony Perrotta of the Williamsport Rotary Club.

“We have this event to provide kids and their families a free activity to go to, where children can have fun and also learn about different organizations and services that are available in the community,” Confer said.

In fact, the event is a learning experience for the adults who visit, as well. This is an opportunity for local organizations like the River Valley Regional YMCA, Williamsport Branch; the Community Theatre League; North Central Sight Services, Inc.; and River Valley Police Athletic League to offer details on programming that many community members don’t realize exist.

“I think that was one of the reasons we started Kids First Friday to begin with,” Confer said. “It was to give parents and families the opportunity to learn about services going on in the the community and for kids to have fun. Through that experience, those participants may benefit from the services in the future.”

In addition to the free activities offered by each of the vendors, including book giveaways, face painting, coloring and more, the committee also sets up a bounce house, basketball shoot and bean bag toss, as well as other games and projects. The James V. Brown Library Storymobile also will pay a visit, one of the city’s firetrucks will be open for tours and Uptown Music Collective will offer live entertainment.

Although the children’s activities are limited to the parking area, other First Friday events will continue to take place throughout the rest of the downtown area, offering a chance to explore the area’s historic structures, galleries, bookstores and micro-breweries.

First Friday originators have always had the area’s youth in mind when planning the monthly event. The area’s earliest First Friday was held in 2000, thanks to seed money provided by grants from the Williamsport Lycoming Arts Council through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts Program. The grant allowed musicians, performers and artists on the street to be included in the festivities. Soon, three student art galleries were opened, including CH’art, an elementary school gallery at Plankenhorns Stationery & Printing; St’art, a high school gallery at the Genetti Hotel; and Collegetown, a gallery held at the Community Arts Center.

It was only natural to devote one of the beloved events to the children who are growing and learning in the community.

“Our intent when we started this was to provide family entertainment and fun for free to bring people downtown,” Confer said. “We feel this attracts children and families from all over the community.”

For more information about First Friday activities, visit williamsportfirstfriday.org.

SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTOS

At top, Kylee Neidig makes balloon animals at Kids First Friday in 2016; Shelly Hepler tries a balloon hat on the head of her grandson, Carmine Cipriani, while perched on his grandfather, Chris Hepler’s shoulders during Kids First Friday in 2015; and Dannika Detato, of Montoursville, has a puppy painted on her face at the 2016 Williamsport Kids First Friday.

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