Asking yourself what to do on a Friday night? Downtown Mansfield, Inc. looks to answer that very question. With a well-planned night full of local shops, artists and entertainers, the group looks to create a more vibrant, social downtown every first Friday of each month Main Street business and surrounding areas come alive as the public is invited to dine, shop and be entertained by the local talent.
This past Friday night was no exception, downtown Mansfield was the place to be for family fun, food, culture and entertainment all within walking distance from place to place.
City Grille and Bar offered a Prime Rib special or if you were more in the mood, you could enjoy a slice of pizza at Two Cousins while enjoying a medley of blues and soft rock performed by TaBlue at 6p.m.
The whole family could find something of interest at the Richland Carrousel Park offering Crafts Around the Carrousel from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and of course from 5-8p.m Family Night Carrousel rides.
If culture was on your list, a short walk over to the Visiting Nurse Association building took you straight into West Africa with the authentic drum and dance troop of Sogbety Diomande. Complete with traditional African dress the sight and sounds of the performers literally stopped traffic as the dancers told stories through movement.
Enjoying an after dinner coffee at Relax came with the fringe benefit of local poets, singers, musicians and entertainers of different sorts taking the stage for open mic night. If literature is more your taste you could hear a book be brought to life by Scott Longert, author of “The Best They Could Be”, a book about the 1918-1920 Cleveland Indians. From 6-8p.m. Longert shared stories of the team and players bringing you into the World Series inning by inning.
There was standing room only at City News as Vinnie & The Lubricators performed rock classics.
Something for everyone is always on the menu, at least on the First Friday of each month in downtown Mansfield. Park your car and take a stroll and experience the flavors of local restaurants and the sights, sounds and energy of the local artistic community.
For more information on future First Friday events visit our calendar at www.richlandsource.com.
