NATALIA RODRIGUEZ
STAFF WRITER
This month’s fall-themed First Friday on Fourth Street festival in downtown Steubenville drew students, visitors and locals to dance, eat good food and buy unique trinkets the night of Oct. 4.
Flannels and fall-related delights decorated the street. A live band performed rock classics and even some of its own original music.
Claudia Moudatsos, a Franciscan University sophomore, said that “it’s always great to see the community gathered together” and that she enjoyed “eating fall-inspired foods like pumpkin fudge and banana bread.”
Spectators had the opportunity to browse and purchase commodities from hot apple cider to jewelry to Catholic shirts and hats. A variety of food trucks were available for hungry visitors, and the choices diversely ranged with options such as barbeque, hot dogs, seafood and desserts like brownies and fudge.
One of the street vendors, Stacie Martinez, who sold Catholic shirts, hoodies and hats, said that her family “felt very blessed to be a part of First on Fourth,” and that it was a “great time of community, fun and revitalization.” Martinez was one of dozens of vendors at the festival, each offering unique items to sell.
At 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., the Grand Theater hosted the sequel to “Battle of the Bards,” in which two playwrights showcase their skits and the winner gets a sequel the next First Friday on Fourth whereas the loser must write a new skit. Spectators enjoyed the skits and laughed at the jokes the actors told.
Referring to the atmosphere of the festival, Brigid Ambuul, a Franciscan University freshman, said, “I feel like the city transforms into something so fun and exciting” and that the “combination of live music and light and an insane caffeine buzz, thanks to Leonardo’s, is infectiously energetic.”
People are already looking forward to November’s First Friday, which will be Halloween themed, Nov. 1. As Ambuul said, “It’s always the highlight of my month.”
First Fridays on Fourth Street is hosted by the Harmonium Project.