How to go
What: Final Friday
Where: Along Market and Main streets in downtown Troy
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26
Who: Troy Main Street
Activities: 45 businesses will stay open late with sales, store promotions and special entertainment
Information: www.TroyMainStreet.org, (937) 339-5455.
TROY — Downtown Troy has been around for a long time, but supporters think many people are not familiar with all of its offerings.
In hopes of reducing that number, Troy Main Street this weekend is unveiling a new event: Final Friday, from 5 to 9 p.m.
The event has been modeled after Urban Nights in Dayton and First Fridays in Yellow Springs, Dayton, Columbus and Greenville, said Karin Manovich, executive director of the Troy Main Street downtown organization.
Activities are planned on Market and Main streets off the Public Square.
“Our downtown is spread out around the fountain area for several blocks in four directions. Many people are not familiar with all the shops and businesses in downtown — nearly 80 walk-in establishments,” Manovich said.
“One of the goals of the event is to entice people to walk the entire area with the lure of varied entertainment, art and special promotions to showcase our business community and our beautiful architecture,” she said. “The creativity and diversity of entertainment displayed at these types of events tends to draw large crowds of people looking for something different to do.”
Planning for Final Friday started in spring. As of late last week, 45 downtown businesses planned to participate in Final Night, with sidewalk sales, outdoor spas, facility tours, sidewalk art galleries, promotions and entertainment.
More than 20 artists will provide demonstrations such as pottery making, jewelry making, weaving, print-making and stained glass.
At least 10 musical acts will be on the streets.
On Prouty Plaza, the Troy Rec downtown youth activities center will offer activities such as cornhole, chalk on the walk and other tastes of summer fun, Manovich said.
Two businesses opening soon will introduce themselves: Olive Oasis, a gourmet oil and vinegar store, and Up and Running, a fitness apparel store.
Among offerings planned at businesses are:
• Odyssey Salon plans sidewalk hair wraps and has expanded plans to include a special event called Return to Fashion and Beauty.”
• Inner Strength Therapeutic Massage will be demonstrating massage and reflexology services on the sidewalk.
• A&A Ink will present a live tattoo demonstration.
• Pinky Scout will host a book signing/sale by local author Meaghan Fisher, who wrote “Lars the Monkey Flies a WACO Airplane” and “Sadie the Skunk.”
Information and maps will be available at participating businesses.
Contact this writer at nancykburr@aol.com.
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