CARLISLE, PA (April 24, 2013) - The Downtown Carlisle Association/LoveCarlisle.com announced today the start of the new season of Downtown First Friday events. First Fridays are held May through September, on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. This year the summer long series is sponsored by Velocity Cycles and they will be on hand to host "First Friday Bike Night" in Carlisle with reserved motorcycle parking, and specialty events for motorcycle owners along with the monthly events, historical tours, art displays, live music, movies, retail promotions and special food items for everyone who visits downtown Carlisle!

The May 3rd First Friday will be themed "ArtWalk", and will be sponsored by CenturyLink. Held from 5 pm - 8 pm, this town-wide event will host activities, retail promotions, live music, and local artist displays all evening long. CenturyLink is sponsoring the Italian Street Painter Bob Baumbach on West Pomfret Street, and the local jazz fusion group Mad Men playing outside Café Bruges on North Pitt Street.  CenturyLink will also be on-site on North Pitt Street with giveaway items and kid's glow-in-the-dark necklaces.

New this year is the "Velocity Cycle's Poker Walk."  As with "Poker Runs" the object is to ride from place to place and collect a playing card from participating merchants.  Upon returning to the host tent, you assemble your cards into the best Poker hand, and the best hand wins prizes. The "Velocity Cycle's Poker Walk" will be the same concept except people walking from merchant to merchant.  Prizes will be gift items and store gift certificates.  Any First Friday's guest can register at the Velocity Cycles tent and get the list of downtown merchants to visit to receive your "playing card" stamp. 

The following is a list of participating businesses and their art themed activities for May 3.

Stop by the Downtown Carlisle Association's/LoveCarlisle.com's information booth at High and Hanover to get your official First Fridays downtown guide map with all new updates.  First Friday activity updates will be posted on the LoveCarlisle.com website and Love Carlisle's Facebook page.

Official List of Activities (subject to change)

DCA Event Information Tent - High and Hanover - "Paint a Minivan!" CVM Auto Park

will have all the materials needed for your youngster to paint a new minivan!  Pink or Purple, Black or blue, all kids will have fun with this!

Velocity Cycles -North Hanover Street - look for the Velocity Cycles tent to register for the           Poker Walk and your chance to win prizes - check out the bikes while you are there too!

Pomfret Street - * Italian Street Painter Bob Baumbach will "paint" a 5' x 8' master piece with acrylic chalks.  Watch him create it Friday morning into the evening, and watch it be washed away that night!

Pitt Street in area of Café Bruges - local band Mad Men will be performing.  Century Link will be on site with light up necklaces for the kids.

Andalusia -26 North Hanover Street - Featuring art work by Jennifer Neslund, Jennifer will be on-site from 5-7pm.

Artist Market of Pomfret St. - 16 West Pomfret Street - Will showcase designer Phyllis Hicks' wearable fiber art and will also feature fine art of  Yachiyo.

Buzz Express - 39 W. Pomfret Street - stop by and see our new store - free popcorn

Café Bruges- 16 North Pitt Street - Art work from Bruges employees, Elisa Rodriguez and Ian Kraus, will be on display. Artwork by ceramist, Michael Layser, will also be on display.

Camellia's Tea Parlor - 36 W. Pomfret Street - Wendy Young w/Olde Moon Lane Hand Sculpted one of a kind Gourds will be on site. 20% off in the gift shop for items over $10

Carlisle Bakery - 35 South Hanover Street - Will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Carlisle Fire Department - Will celebrate First Friday throughout the evening greeting attendees and participants!

The Clothes Vine - 134 West High Street -Light refreshments will be available. Artwork by local artist and Dickinson student, Chris Gleeson, will be on display.

Courthouse Commons - 1 South Hanover Street - We will be open late - stop by with the kids for some arts & crafts.

Gaia Fresh Food Café - 57 W. Pomfret Street - Staying open late, Featuring local artwork throughout the venue, kids come in and check out the backyard,  Open music jam.

Georgie Lou's Retro Candy & Gifts - 22 North Pitt Street - Open until 8pm. Stop by to see our selection of nostalgic candies and vintage-inspired gifts.

History on High - The Shop - 33 West High Street - open late during the event.

Lili's Place Country Market & Café - 10 West Pomfret Street - Friends First Friday Dinner: Bring a friend in for lunch or dinner on the First Friday of the month and buy one sandwich and soup and get the second sandwich and soup for half price (the lesser amount will be half price). Mary Parks will be onsite drawing personal caricatures for $5

Market Cross Pub & Brewery - 113 North Hanover Street - Kurt Brantner Pottery will be out front from 5 to 8 p.m. and Finks Constant (ska, reggae) will be featured from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Marjorie's Gems - 21 West Pomfret Street - Susquehanna Bank will be onsite with a water station to keep you hydrated and a paint station to entertain the kids.  $1.00 vintage jewelry and bonus punch for $5 club purchases will be offered.

Nancy Stamm's Galleria - 2 N. Hanover Street - hosting a soft opening from 5:30p-7:00p for her exhibit entitled "Traveling Sketchbook" featuring sketches and watercolors from her travels.  A free sketch project will be available for the children. Several works of art by students at St Patrick Blue Ribbon School will also be showcased.

Pat Craig Studios - 30 West Pomfret Street - While enjoying refreshments check out two working art studios. Will also offer 20% off all beerings jewelry only.

Sadler Health Center - 108 North Hanover Street - Will display artwork in their front windows.

So-Hi Books - 30 West Pomfret Street - Open House with refreshments. 15% off all book sales at all First Fridays!

Stacked - 36 S. Pitt Street., stop by and check out this newly opened resale clothing store for trendy, name brand casual wear at a fraction of the cost.  Artwork by local artist and Dickinson Student, Chris Gleeson will be on display.  Unlawful Falafel will be onsite with his mobile food cart making his gourmet falafels.

Valarie Moyer's Unique Dolls & Gifts - 152 North Hanover Street - Will feature Back Porch Art - children of all ages are invited to make and take paper dolls and puppets.

Whistlestop Bookshop - 129 West High Street - displaying local artist, Mary Anne Lard

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The downtown Carlisle First Friday Series is organized by the Downtown Carlisle Association and sponsored by local community corporations. Designed to increase foot traffic in downtown, and heighten the awareness of shopping and dining, the First Friday Series has been an annual downtown series for the past eight years. In 2013 occurring on the First Friday's of May, June, July, August and September, the event has brought over 25,000 guests to downtown Carlisle.

Future First Friday dates and themes are:
June 7th                       History Walk, Sponsored by LoveCarlisle.com
July 5th                        Summerfaire, Sponsored by LoveCarlisle.com
August 2nd                  Kid's Night Out, Sponsored by Carlisle Regional Medical Center
September 6th            Music Walk, Sponsored by Dickinson College

The Downtown Carlisle Association is a volunteer community main street development organization that markets and promotes the assets of Downtown Carlisle for the benefit of shopping, tourism, business recruitment, and economic development.  Through various tourism events, downtown beautification initiatives, retail recruitment and downtown residential revitalization, we make Downtown a great place to lve, work, shop & play!