Friday Fun in Downtown Decatur

Decatur, Ala. (May 12, 2015) – The merchants of downtown Decatur will host its 3^rd Friday this week, May 15^th, filling the historic downtown area with music, food, art, and more. As attendees enjoy the downtown ambiance, a variety of special activities are planned offering everything from fun and fashion to music and motorcycles.

Downtown Decatur 3^rd Friday gets underway at 5 p.m. and festivalgoers are invited to spend the evening looking at a wide variety of antique cars along 2^nd Avenue while enjoying some of the area’s best musicians throughout the downtown area and inside many restaurants. Performers include Chris Simmons at Simp McGhee’s, Derek Blagburn on the patio at The Brick, Chandler Brown and The Liberty Boys on Moulton Street by Downtown Dawgs, Of Kith and Kin on Second Avenue by the Princess Theatre, Christian Herring Band on Second Avenue by The Antique Basket, The Chordsman in the 800 block of Bank Street, Ally Burgess in the 700 block of Bank Street, Decatur Youth Symphony Small Ensemble in the 600 block of Band Street, and the Morgan County Dulcimer Association by the Old State Bank.

For children, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center will have activities and art on Bank Street, along with a demonstration by Webster’s Karate Studio, and in the 500 block, CASA on the Green will host children’s local favorite band, Tangerine Tambourine. A caricature artist and face painting will also provide entertainment during the evening.

For the fashionistas, there will be a fashion show at 7 p.m. in front of Casa Grande Park on Second Avenue. Presented by Beautiful Edge, transformations by Erin, and the Alabama Fashion Alliance, the runway-style show will feature selections from Indigo’s, Jar & Co., Jewelry by Lorelai Kolarik, and special guest designer and founder of AFA, LeJune.

Shopping in downtown Decatur is plentiful and many of the merchants will remain open late during the 3^rd Friday celebration. Craft vendors selling handmade items will fill Casa Grande Park and Jones Park on 2^nd Avenue. The Cupboard, located on Bank Street, will host Fox Point Farms who will be offering free samples of their amazing goat milk caramels and caramel sauce and there will be baby goats on hand to add to the fun. The Paper Chase will give a gift with any Vera Bradley purchase and Glee Interiors will have a sidewalk sale with 75% off discounts. Downtown Dawgs will have free kids nachos with the purchase of a combo meal.

Throughout the evening, the 700 block of Bank Street will be filled with a variety of motorcycles provided by the North Alabama Vintage Motorcycle Club and festivalgoers can shop among the many antique vendors set up in the 800 block. Non-profit organizations will be featured in the 500 block where festivalgoers can drop by and learn more about what is offered in Decatur and Morgan County.

Participating streets in 3^rd Fridays include 2^nd Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston streets. MCATS will provide transportation between Bank Street and Second Avenue for $1 per person, per ride. Pickup locations are at the Alabama Center for the Arts parking lot on Second Avenue and beside Tammy Eddy Antiques and Interiors on Bank Street.

Third Friday’s was first organized in 2009 by merchants as a way to attract locals and visitors to the downtown area. The Downtown Merchants Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor. Presenting sponsor is Budweiser. Additional sponsors include Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Bank Independent, Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Morgan County Commission, Nucor Steel, 3M, Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, Beautiful Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, and King Insurance Agency.

For more information, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993 or visit 3^rd Friday’s Facebook page for the latest information.