'Hot Wheels' First Fridays is unofficial kickoff to summer in downtown Adrian

ADRIAN — There is a slew of attractions slated for downtown Adrian’s June First Fridays, happening today.

“Hot Wheels” is the theme of this month’s get-together that will unofficially kick off summer. The Adrian Cruise-in Car Show, sponsored by Nova’s Soda Pop Candy Shop, makes its return for First Fridays, and the public is welcome to show off their hot rods, classic cars, trucks, rat rods and motorcycles. No-charge registration begins at 4 p.m.  People bringing their autos to the car show should enter downtown at the corner of East Church and North Main streets. Cars will not be allowed in after 5 p.m., an announcement said, and all downtown streets will be closed for the first car show of the year.

The following streets and parking lots downtown will close at 2:30 p.m. today and will reopen at approximately 11 p.m.:

• East Maumee Street, from North Broad to North Winter streets.

• North Main Street, from East Church to Toledo 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.

The Cruise-in Car Show is scheduled during First Fridays through October. It features door prizes, and this month there will be a hula hoop contest and Hot Wheels races.

Nova’s, which is also the main sponsor for June’s First Friday, will be open at 105 E. Church St., selling Faygo slushies, offering free popcorn and serving hot dogs along with Funky Dawgs food truck.

Keeping with the theme of Hot Wheels and cars, there will be a Bikes, Trikes and Hot Wheels parade for children 6 or younger. Kids are encouraged to deck out their bikes, power wheels and big wheels in style for a judging contest and a mini parade. Lineup for the parade starts at 5:30 p.m. at The Novelty Shoppe, 145 S. Main St., and the parade begins at 6 p.m. The route of the parade will be from South Main Street turning right onto East Maumee Street and continuing through the hallway of the Gallery of Shops to the East Church Street parking lot. Prizes and giveaways will be awarded for all participants.

Registration for the parade can be completed at www.GalleryofShopsAdrian.com or at any location inside The Gallery of Shops. All children participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and they must be present to win their prizes.

The final automobile-themed portion of First Fridays will be an outdoor movie screening of the 2006 animated film “Cars.” The movie will begin at sunset and will be shown on a big screen in front of the Adrian District Library, 143 E. Maumee St. People watching the movie should bring lawn chairs, blankets, sleeping bags and other forms of seating with them.

Live music will also be prevalent throughout First Fridays. A lineup of the musicians and bands and when and where they will be performing is as follows:

• 6 to 8 p.m., The Metros Band with Gordy Sharpe, corner of South Main and East Church streets.

• 7 to 9 p.m., Jaded Soul Band, South Main and Toledo streets.

• 7:30 p.m., Noah Martis, performing at Mammoth Distilling, 108 E. Maumee St.

• 8 p.m. to midnight, karaoke at the Randy P. Hill American Veterans (AMVETS) Post No. 1957, 122 N. Main St. AMVETS will also be sponsoring a cornhole tournament along South Main Street.

• 9 p.m., karaoke at Club 109, 109 S. Main St.

• DJ STE at The Brick Wall Pub & Grub, 114 W. Maumee St.

• 7 to 10 p.m. Vintage Vinyl Night at Farver’s at the Croswell, 129 E. Maumee St.

The city also invites people to take advantage of the downtown Adrian social district — just look for the blue line painted throughout downtown. Adults of legal drinking age can enjoy an alcoholic beverage inside the social district while walking around downtown.

The newly opened Adrian City Market at the Pavilion, which is open weekly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through Oct. 1, will also have market hours during First Fridays at the Toledo Street Pavilion. Vendors and food trucks will be present.

A ribbon-cutting and grand-opening celebration for downtown Adrian’s new parklets will be offered along East and West Maumee streets. These are outdoor seating areas placed in curbside parking spots

Downtown Adrian businesses will also be getting into the fun of First Fridays by offering deals and specials. The following businesses are participating:

• Phoenix Rising Wellness Center, 101 W. Maumee St., will offer herbal tea samples, chair massages at $20 for 15 minutes, $10 auriculotherapy and $10 vibrational chakra clearings.

• Pat Cooper Studios will have art on display and for sale as well as refreshments at 130 N. Main St.

• Sass Gift Shop, 114 E. Maumee St., will offer 20% off Warmies, which are microwaveable and scented plush stuffed animals and toys; a speciality beverage with any purchase; and the Lenawee Humane Society will be selling catnip mice.

• Bohmey Beauty, 128 N. Main St., will have a free lemonade stand in front of the store and will be offering 20% off Bohmey Beauty merchandise, body lotions and polishes.

• Free fudge samples and 10% off the total purchase price when customers show a receipt from another downtown business will be offered at The Buzz Cafe and Marketplace, 110 E. Maumee St.

• Tink & the Frog Yarn Shop, 117 N. Main St., will have 10% off intro to knitting or crocheting classes, 40% off discontinued yarn, and 10% off the total purchase price when customers show a receipt from another downtown business.

• Local small business vendors are invited to meet at Nutrition 365, 110 N. Main St. Fruit tea samples will be served.

• Mammoth Distilling will have 20% off all cocktails and spirits as well as grab-and-go cocktails to enjoy in the social district.

• Hang Loose Boutique & Salon, 136 E. Maumee St., will have 40% off Vera Bradley products and 20% off purses and all hair products.

• Club 109 will have drink specials and will be selling hot dogs for $1.50.

• XSell Realty, 129 S. Main St., will offer refreshments along with gas card giveaways and complimentary homebuyer and seller consultations.

• The Wagley Group, 121 N. Main St., will allow guests the opportunity to spin the wheel for various prizes and enter into a drawing for a new bicycle. Local Girl Scouts chapters will be selling cookies and offering free lemonade.

• Seasonal cocktail specials will be served at Farver’s at the Croswell.

• A swiss steak dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Adrian Moose Family Center and Lodge No. 1034, 111 S. Main St. Root beer floats, a special for First Fridays, will also be served.

• An end of the school year celebration and a Pride Month celebration will take place at Hilltop Counseling, 115 W. Maumee St. Refreshments will also be available.

• The Friends of the Adrian District Library will be selling paperback books for 50 cents and will have oversized family games in the front seating area of the library.

• Chaloner & Co., 108 W. Maumee St., will have 20% off all Xlkar products. Customers who buy any three cigars will receive one select cigar for free. Chaloner’s Cigar House will offer $8 summer sangrias.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian First Fridays for June celebrates cars, automobiles and bikes