What began as an effort to bring a new sense of excitement and a revived feeling of civic pride to downtown Steubenville has quickly evolved into one of the most-anticipated continuing events on the city's yearly calendar.
And, even though COVID-19 and the protocols and restrictions that went along with it put a damper on last year's First Fridays on Fourth events, organizers are looking forward this year to a full season of evening celebrations along Fourth Street.
It all begins tonight, when the monthly event returns as a street fair, carrying the theme of a May Day Festival. It will have the feel of a renaissance festival, organizers have explained, and will include the crowning of a May queen.
Scheduled to run between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., it's a family friendly event that will feature food, crafts, live music, craft beer and games. The events offer, organizers have said in the past, an opportunity for people to be comfortable with the idea that they and their families can enjoy quality time downtown. Some of the downtown businesses will stay open through the evening, which will provide an opportunity for residents from across the Tri-State Area the chance to get a better idea of what the city has to offer.
Driving the monthly series are the Harmonium Project and the Young Preservationists. That the events have continued to grow in popularity during the past several years is a testament to the hard work of members of those organizations as well as Presidents Marc Barnes of the Harmonium Project and Therese Nelson of the Young Preservationists.
Friday's street celebration will be the first scheduled between now and November, when the Nutcracker Village will return to the city's streets. June's event will feature a storybook theme, and July's will be a salute to our nation's independence as well as the great flood of 1936.
Each of the evenings offers the chance to relax and unwind, spend some quality time with family members, enjoy the company of friends and neighbors and celebrate what's good about our region.
We hope to see you downtown.