Mango Men Highlight Beach-Themed Lansdale First Friday

Life's a beach—and so is Lansdale.

Spring just arrived, but Discover Lansdale is looking forward to summer.

The first First Friday of 2013 will kick off tonight in downtown Lansdale with a beach theme and climaxes with a performance by The Mango Men.

"It's a go," said Councilwoman Mary Fuller during the parks and recreation committee meeting Wednesday night. "We have our areas set up and ready to go."

First Friday runs 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Come summer, the event will run until 10 p.m.

Aside from The Mango Men performing, April First Friday will also unveil the Midway at Richardson Avenue. 

This amusement area at First Friday will mimic the sideshows at carnivals with a pit stop challenge, shooting gallery, ring toss, limbo, Plinko® and a quarterback blitz.

Fuller said Woodson Poles will perform at the event. There will also be steel drummer Johnny Mac (who may sit in with Mango Men) and Nate, the Roving Fire Hooper.

The only beachy thing not at the event is Frankie Avalon and Annette Funnicello.

Madison Street will be closed to traffic from Main Street to Wood Street between 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. This will provide more exposure and safety to the Family Corner and events at Railroad Plaza.  

The Family Corner at Madison Street and Main Street will be the spot for entertainment for the youth, featuring a moon bounce and food. Exhibitors at Family Corner include North Penn PAL, Lansdale Police and North Penn Under Ten.

North Penn Under Ten is running a treasure hunt through October, featuring prizes like a Nook tablet and Jumpin Jacks Inflatable Playland passes.

According to founder Aimee Von Haase Heavener, participants can stop by the North Penn Under Ten booth to pick up a free contest entry card, limited to one per child.

The card is brought around to each of the Family Corner tables to collect a special sticker from each one, she said. Once the card is filled, the contestant brings it back to the North Penn Under Ten booth and gets a small prize from the treasure box.

Each month, North Penn Under Ten will draw three winners each month for free passes to Jumpin' Jack's Inflatable Playland and Party Center in Hatfield.

At the October First Friday, the last one for 2013, North Penn Under Ten will draw a winner from all collected cards throughout the season for a Nook tablet. 

Should bad weather threaten cancellation of the event, Discover Lansdale will make the call by 2 p.m.

"The Friday weather is improving day by day," said Fuller on Wednesday night during the committee reports to borough council. "The weather's going to hold out for the melodious sounds of The Mango Men."

This month's First Friday sponsors are Chantilly Floral Boutique, Margaritas Mexican Restaurant in Towamencin and HealthSource.

Find Discover Lansdale on Facebook at /DiscoverLansdalePA. Find Discover Lansdale on Twitter @LansdaleOrg.