First Friday continues this month with the theme of UPMC Life Changing Medicine, just in time as the weather starts to cool down.

According to Shanin Dougherty, co-chair of the First Friday committee with Lycoming Arts, UPMC will certainly be throwing a celebration with a variety of giveaways and their mascot, Will M. Sport, who will be walking throughout the closed West Fourth and Pine streets.

In addition, UPMC will also have a COVID-19 vaccination tent for those who are interested in receiving it.

Though there won’t be a selfie wall this month, Dougherty said the streets will be “decked out in UPMC purple” and the street teams will be handing out stickers as per usual.

“We are of course encouraging people to stay safe, wear masks and socially distance,” she said. “We will have a large array of vendors … a variety of food trucks and stands as always.”

A full list of the vendors will be on the Williamsport First Friday Facebook page.

“Kids can stop by (Lycoming Arts building)…our art-to-go craft will be making Indian corn,” Dougherty added.

The corn will be made using a brown paper bag that the kids can paint the colorful corn kernels on.

“It will be a fun craft for the kids,” she said.

In addition to that, there will be four musical acts from 6 to 8 p.m. in varying locations.

The Lyco Artz Jazz Quintet can be found on Pine Street, Peter John and Mary can be found outside of the Community Arts Center, Keystone Express will be performing at the east end of Fourth and Market streets and the Suzuki violin students will also be performing with a location to be determined.

As always, downtown small businesses will be participating with their own inside events. One of them being a featured author, Robert Slothus, at Otto Bookstore. He will be doing a book signing of his novel “CLINAMEN” according to the Williamsport First Friday Facebook page.

Locals can also stop in at the The Stonehouse Wood Fired Pizza & Pasteria for a showing of a mural “The Big Easy,” painted by Ashlee Reitmeyer, who will also be selling her other paintings.

Last month’s anniversary celebration was fantastic, according to Dougherty, who helps coordinate the monthly event with Beth Armanda, co-chair of the First Friday committee alongside other Lycoming Arts members and volunteers.

“It was fantastic. It was a party for the ages. A lot of great events that happened at the same time which brought people downtown…the most people I have seen downtown in quite a while. It was really moving and happy to see that all of the hard work is really appreciated by our community,” Dougherty said.

First Friday will continue their outdoor vendor celebration through October and will continue their indoor events throughout the year.

West Fourth Street and parts of Pine Street will be closed for this event. For parking information, please visit the Williamsport First Friday page.