Marietta's First Friday In May Is An All Around Success

MARIETTA, OH — Marietta Main Street kicked off May in Marietta with their First Friday event. This month was carnival-themed. Hundreds of families poured out into the streets of downtown Marietta. There was carnival food, music, prizes, games, and dancing.

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This event was sponsored by Washington County Help Me Grow and Kiwanis Club of Marietta. It was guest sponsored by Washington Morgan Community Action, Oriana House Inc., and the Public Art Committee of Marietta Main Street. However most businesses downtown participated in some way. Most stayed open late, had games, prizes, or featured some sort of live music.

There was nearly a line out the door of American Flags and Poles of families waiting for face painting. They had a calliope and a monkey organ out front blasting jovial carnival music. Sylvie Caparell is the owner, she said this music has been described as the happiest music in the world. "They use it in baseball games and football games, to get the crowd excited. It's just fun."

Caparell is a big supporter of Marietta Main Street's First Friday events. "Absolutely, everybody loves it, we as store owners love it, the community loves it, the families love it." She said it's special to put something together to show appreciation for the customers. "We have the strong man, we have the monkey organ, we like to do fun things." They would have had more activities, but there just wasn't room. She said they love having people be able to drop in like this. "People having a good time is really important."

As usual, there was Kid Central on the lawn of the Armory. Here they had dance troops perform, live t-shirt printing, and they featured various programs aimed at helping the youth of Marietta. Over by the monument, the Kiwanis Club of Marietta had organized a series of carnival games for the kids. There were four stations, each station featured games or art, for participating each child got a sticker. Four stickers earned the kids a book of their choice.

President of the Kiwanis Club is Joan Zoller, she set up the carnival games for the kids as a co-sponsor of this First Friday. "We set up tents for the kids to have activities where they can earn stickers." They also gave out goodie bags and balloons. "We just wanted to have activities for the kids so they could come out and have some good clean fun."

This is the second time the Kiwanis Club of Marietta has participated in a First Friday. Last year they donated bike helmets to kids. "Kiwanis' goal is to serve the children of the world. Literacy aligns with our goals and values." She says they want to do what they can to give back to the kids right here in the community. She encouraged teenagers interested in giving back to the community to consider joining the Key Club or the Builders Club.

Marietta Main Street is already getting ready for their June First Friday. This will be on June 4th, it will be Art Walk themed and Main Street's Executive Director Christie Thomas has said they hope to have the DORA (designated outdoor refreshment area) up and running on that weekend. So for everyone who loves painting, wine, and the outdoors, next First Friday is for you.

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