CANCELLED: First Thursday Fayetteville Returns Today

Update: This month’s First Thursday event has been cancelled due to expected rain.

For the first time in a few months, the Fayetteville square will be filled with local art, music, and more as part of the monthly First Thursday street festival this week.

The event, which takes place on the first Thursday of the month from April to November, will include an art walk with work by more than 40 visual artists, food and drink, children’s activities, and more on the streets around the square.

The fun starts at 5 p.m. and is scheduled to run unit 9 p.m. Here’s what we know about this month’s festival.

On the Square

Live music will begin on the square with a kid-friendly performance by local band, Ozarka Orchestra.

After that, acclaimed bluesman Mr. Sipp and local blues act Amanda Rey and the West Street Blues Band will perform beginning at around 7 p.m., thanks to a partnership with this year’s Blues in the Natural State festival.

As always, several local artists, crafters, and more will be set up with art for sale at booths around the square. This month’s art walk includes more than 40 artists.

Beer Garden

The beer garden will be located at the Town Center plaza on Mountain Street this month. The garden will feature brews by featured local brewery Core Brewing Company, and the proceeds from the garden will benefit Feed Fayetteville.

Fayetteville Underground

Fayetteville Underground will have new work by Irish street artist Maser on display (the artist who created the Under the Stars installation on West Avenue), as well as a new multi-media piece titled Ascension of Man State of the Art artist Guy Bell.

The opening will also feature a new interactive performance piece by artist Cynthia Post Hunt. The piece, called Black Box, 2015, will feature two bodies will laying head to head in chalk outlines on the floor with Post Hunt in one of these outlines and the participant in the other. The artist and participant will lay their heads together inside of a box where they will both listen to an interactive playlist on headphones filled with songs or sounds that personally relate to mourning and grief. Each participant will be able to choose their own song to add to the playlist.

Stand Up, limited edition print by Maser

Other local artists will also display new work. Drinks and snacks will be served, and the non-profit gallery will also be accepting donations.

Around town

Bank of Fayetteville on the square will have a show by Fayetteville photographer Kirk Lanier.

The Lightbulb Club will open early for a vinyl record night, where customers are encourage to bring their own records in to share with other attendees.

Parking

Free parking will be a ail able in the Fayetteville Town Center parking deck beginning at noon.