There will be plenty for adults and children to enjoy at the site of this year’s first, First Fridays celebration – a beer garden, food trucks, live music, artisan vendors, entertainment for kids – but attendees should not limit themselves to the festivities in the parking lot next to Das Bierhalle.
People also should make time to patronize a downtown shop, eat at a restaurant and “really make it an evening, because Bel Air has a lot of great amenities,” said Jenny Falcone, executive director for the Bel Air Downtown Alliance.
The Downtown Alliance puts on multiple events each year, including First Fridays, as part of the nonprofit’s mission to promote economic development in downtown Bel Air. This year’s kickoff celebration, which Falcone called “a great family-friendly event,” runs from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 5. The festivities, which are supported by sponsorships from multiple businesses in Bel Air, will be in the parking lot at Churchville Road and South Main Street. Admission is free, plus parking will be free of charge downtown after 5 p.m.
“It’s a great way to end the week and see friends,” Falcone said of First Fridays, which are scheduled for the first Friday of the month through October.
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 forced many local businesses to close or cut back their services. Organizations such as the Downtown Alliance had to cancel their community events or make significant adjustments to ensure COVID safety. Attendance at Alliance events has increased over the past three years, including First Fridays, as the pandemic wanes and life has returned to a relative state of normal.
“We’ve been pretty diligent about keeping people safe and trying to create more space for people to enjoy the events,” Falcone said, noting that more amenities were added to events as the severity of COVID decreased.
“I would encourage people to come out and enjoy all that downtown Bel Air has to offer,” she said.
People can visit the Downtown Alliance website, or its social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, for more information on First Fridays.
Contact Media and Public Relations Specialist David Anderson at 410-688-3020 or danderson@belairmd.org.