STEUBENVILLE — A festival favorite, retro live karaoke, returns to downtown Steubenville for Friday’s First Friday on Fourth.

The Harmonium Project’s Marc Barnes said it’s their sixth-annual karaoke competition.

“Anyone gets to sign up to be front man or front woman to a live band all through the night,” he said. “We have a band ready to play something like 80 different songs that people can choose from.”

That band, Mr. Fancy Pants, will take the stage at 7:45 p.m.

“It’s a lot of fun, such a blast,” he said. “People really look forward to it.”

Barnes said hits from the 1980s and 1990s are especially popular.

“There’s some tough competition, some really good singers come out for it,” he said. “And having the live band playing is so special compared to just a CD.”

The winning singer will be crowned Karaoke King or Queen and take home a $100 cash prize plus a lot of gift cards from downtown businesses.

He said being a great singer isn’t required, though it does boost your chance of winning.

“We have some people compete who have more confidence than talent, but it doesn’t cost anything to sing with the band,” he said. “You just might not win.”

Barnes said they’ll have the usual kid stuff — retro activities like PoGo sticks and jump ropes to play with, plus bouncy castles — and a theater group will be doing improv comedy at Leonardo’s Coffeehouse at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“We also have our new T-shirt for this season for sale,” he said. “Every year we make a new First Friday T-shirt that people can buy to support our event.”

Local breweries will be represented at the festival, along with a full slate of vendors and food trucks.

The fun starts with the Catholic Central marching band playing its way from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to the First Fridays main stage at 6 p.m. Also performing on the main stage will be Mirabelle Skipworth at 6:20 p.m., Mr. Fancy Pants karaoke at 7:45 p.m. and the Adrian Niles Trio at 10 p.m.

Performing on the Market Street stage will be Rosezella and the Visions at 6:20 p.m., Matt Hill & Friends at 7:30 p.m. and Jay Michaels at 8:40 p.m.

The festival fun continues through 11 p.m.

Sponsors are Tri-State Financial Services, the Steubenville Cultural Trust, the College of St. Joseph the Worker, Roofsimple, Hermann Chiropractic, Steubenville Visitor Center, Mosti Funeral Home, Naple’s Spaghetti House, Ace Optical, the Steubenville Grocery Box and Bookmarx Bookstore.

Storybook Night will be the theme of the Sept. 5 edition of the monthly street fair, while Oktoberfest will be the theme of the Oct. 3 edition, which will be the last presentation of the year.