Downtown Carlisle enticed community members and students with its last “First Friday” celebration of the summer, providing a social atmosphere filled with local music, store specials, and food on Friday, Sept. 6. The theme was “Music Walk.” The evening featured local bands and musicians on every block. Adults, children of all ages, and Dickinson students attended the event.

Local businesses, such as Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb, Stacked, and The Clothes Vine featured artwork, sale promotions and appetizers. The Carlisle Arts Learning Center offered children the opportunity to do “do it yourself” projects. Dickinson’s own Radio station WDCV was stationed outside of the Century Links building on West High Street playing music and selling merchandise.

Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb, a vintage store on West High Street, was crowded with adults and children snacking on cheese and crackers. Folk singer Nina Scarcia played in the store window. Dave Bender, the co-owner, explained why he likes First Friday.

“We actually opened in 2008 on a first Friday…I think [First Friday] is a good thing because it brings people to Downtown who might not normally come downtown,” he said. “Two years ago it used to be that one block would have a first Friday and that was it. Now it’s the whole town and I like that a lot more now…September’s a nice time for friends and family…also the Dickinson students are back.”

Outside Stacked , a resale designer clothing store featuring designer clothing and eclectic jewelry, a local band, who used to call themselves The Brilliant Mallards, played. According to one of its members, are taking some time to “reevaluate and come up with a new name.”

Nicole Waglarz, the guitarist’s girlfriend who is originally from Newville, Pennsylvania, loves first Friday.

”I get to walk outside my house… and within walking distance I can hear about eight genres of music.”
Dickinson student Anna Roach Howell ‘14, a DJ for WDCV, attended First Friday this year and noted the event’s growth over her time living in Carlisle

“I went to my First Friday my freshman year…there’s a lot more going on now,” she said.
Stacked owner, Jennifer Lee, also loves First Friday.

“It brings the community out,” she said.