First Fridays to celebrate Maple Pride in downtown Adrian

ADRIAN — Because of its many maple trees, Adrian has been known as the “Maple City” for some time. Adrian’s civic pride will be celebrated this evening when downtown Adrian has its October edition of First Fridays, aptly named “Maple Pride.”

First Fridays features the final Adrian Cruise-In Car Show of the year, sponsored by Nova’s Soda Pop and Candy Shop, and a lineup of live musical performances. A Maple Pride aerial crowd photo will be taken at 5:30 p.m.

People are asked to gather at the four corners of Main and Maumee streets, wearing their blue and white Adrian colors.

XSell Realty, 129 S. Main St., is the October First Fridays sponsor, a news release from the city said. Its office will be supplying giveaway items and will offer fall-themed goodies.

First Fridays is a monthly event held throughout downtown Adrian that encourages people to visit the shops and restaurants downtown. Each month’s event is a collaboration of artists, performers, businesses, organizations and volunteers. Festivities start at about 5 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m. or later. Some businesses have extended hours.

Some downtown streets will close in preparation for First Fridays beginning at 2:30 p.m., the city’s release said. The streets are expected to reopen at approximately 11 p.m. today. The following streets and parking lots will be closed:

• West Maumee Street, between North Broad and North Winter streets.

• South Main Street, between West Church and East Front streets.

• Washburn Street, a half-block closure to North Main Street.

• Toledo Street, a half-block closure to North Main Street.

• Toledo Street pavilion parking lot.

Today’s First Fridays has several fan-favorite musicians in the lineup. This month is also the final time this year when outdoor music will be performed.

• The Metros Band with Gordy Sharpe play from 6 to 8 p.m. at the corner of South Main and West Church streets.

• The Lazy River Band performs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the corner of South Main and Toledo streets.

• Grace Theisen will perform from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Mammoth Distilling, 108 E. Maumee St.

• DJ STE will be at the Brick Wall Pub & Grub, 114 W. Maumee St., from 7 p.m. to midnight.

• The Jim Rice Group will be at Hooligan’s Grill, 113 E. Maumee St.

• Noah Martis will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at Farver’s at the Croswell, 129 E. Maumee St.

• Club 109, 109 S. Main St., will have karaoke beginning at 9 p.m. Free games of pool can be played from 5 p.m. to close.

• The Adrian City Market will be set up at the Toledo Street Farmers Market Pavilion along with food trucks and other attractions.

• A cornhole tournament, sponsored by Randy P. Hill American Veterans (AMVETS) Post No. 1957 will be behind the Copeland Furniture building on North Main Street.

• People may also make use of the city’s Downtown Adrian Refreshment Area social district, which is open until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Adults of legal drinking age can enjoy adult beverages purchased from participating businesses while inside the DARA district. Beverages will be served in specially marked Adrian DARA cups.

Numerous businesses are having sales and promotions during today’s event:

• Good Life Tattoo Co., 127 S. Main St., will have special guests Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees just in time for the spooky Halloween season. The guest vendor will be Irish Hills Sweets. The public can take a selfie with a “groovy skeleton,” enroll in a photo contest, enjoy refreshments and purchase spooky tattoos for $75.

• The Gallery Game can be played and Maple Pride prizes can be won at the Gallery of Shops, 136 E. Maumee St.

• Mammoth Distilling will have maple cocktails as its main drink features for autumn. All cocktails and spirits will be 20% off.

• The Marks Trading Co., 220 N. Main St., will have 15% off dips and nuts, including Maple Pride nuts.

• Celebration Title Group of Adrian, 103 E. Maumee St., encourages people to wear their Maple gear and take some fun and silly photos inside their photo booth.

• Customers who purchase any refinery items at Bohmey Beauty, 128 N. Main St., will receive a free bar of soap. There will also be two pop-up shops inside the boutique: Made by Jenna Homemade Scrunchies and Serene Offerings Thrifted Finds. Lots of new fall arrivals will be available for purchase.

• The Adrian District Library, 135 E. Maumee St., will have a comedy-themed book sale for all ages. Tickets can also be purchased for the “Loud at the Library” fundraiser coming up later this month. Under His Wings quilting group will have their quilts on display inside the library. After Oct. 15, quilts made by the group will be donated to the Catherine Cobb Safe House. People can also leave donations to the Catherine Cobb Safe House in specially marked bins at the library.

• Chomp Burger, 240 N. Main St., will have half-off deals on pulled pork sandwiches.

• In addition to hosting the final car show of the year, Nova’s Soda Pop and Candy Shop will have free, freshly popped popcorn.

• Adrian High School student artwork will be on display at Grata Domum Realty, 128 S. Main St. Refreshments will be available. An interactive art project for kids will also be available.

• The Brick Wall Pub & Grub will be having a $15 dinner consisting of beef stew, side salad and dinner rolls with butter.

• Chaloner’s Cigar House, 108 W. Maumee St., will have pumpkin spiced iced coffee priced at $8. Chaloner & Co. will have 20% off all alcohol-infused cigars. Customers who buy any three cigars will receive one select cigar for free, while supplies last.

• Freshly roasted prime rib from Monahan’s Meat Market will be the featured menu item at Hooligan’s Grill. House-made apple pie sangrias will be $5, and all speciality drinks will be $2 off.

• Downtown Dempsey’s, 136 E. Maumee St. inside the Gallery of Shops, will have special desserts from Blondie’s Bakery and a new gobbler sub.

• Happy hour prices on draft beer, cocktails and wines will be available at Farver’s at the Croswell. This month’s featured drink is smoky maple margaritas.

• Pat Cooper Studios, 130 N. Main St., will have some artwork priced as low as $10. Other discounts will be available. Refreshments will be provided.

• Customers shopping at Sass Gift Shop, 114 E. Maumee St., can receive a speciality beverage with any purchase. Any in-store item that is made in Michigan is 20% off. The Lenawee Humane Society will have a booth inside the gift shop where it will be selling catnip mice.

• Customers will be able to receive 10% off their total purchase price at The Buzz Cafe & Marketplace, 110 E. Maumee St., when they present a receipt from another downtown Adrian business. Prizes, including gift certificates, coupons and free treats, can be won from the “Duck Pull” pool.

• Tarot readings, mini Reiki healings, henna tattoos and natal chart readings are some of the services available today at Ghidrah’s Mystic She Ways, 120 E. Maumee St.

• Passion 4 Fashion Boutique, 143 N. Main St., will have 15% off the entire store, excluding Brighton products. On top of that discount, boots and shoes will be 20% off from 5 to 8 p.m. While shopping, customers can enjoy free refreshments.

• Adrian Maple 16-ounce teas will be buy one, get one free at Nutrition 365, 110 N. Main St. Cinnamon maple iced coffees will be $1 off.

• The Adrian Moose Family Center and Lodge No. 1034, 111 S. Main St., will have First Fridays specials on swiss steak dinners and root beer floats.

• “Socktober” will be celebrated at Tink & the Frog Yarn Shop, 117 N. Main St.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: 'Maple Pride' is theme for October First Fridays in downtown Adrian