close

First Friday finally returns after a year’s hiatus

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
1 / 13

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Sparky the Dalmatian extends a friendly hand to Collin Schreiber, who is being reassured by his father, Scott.

2 / 13

Cooper Jones, held by dad Tanner, points toward the stage where Christopher Mark Jones, Tanner's father and Cooper's grandfather, is performing.

3 / 13

Arialla Grafton has some First Friday fun at Clearview Common.

4 / 13

Providing First Friday entertainment are, from left, Bryce Rabideau, Christopher Mark Jones and Eric George.

5 / 13

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Backing Christopher Mark Jones, left, is bass guitarist Jim Spears.

6 / 13

Harry Funk/The Almanac

D.J. and Alaina Grafton enjoy greeting Sparky the Dalmatian during Mt. Lebanon’s First Friday festivities at Clearview Common.

7 / 13

Sparky and partner dance to the First Friday music.

8 / 13

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Avery and Amy Jones enjoy the festivities

9 / 13

Helping everyone stay safe is Wayne Wilson.

10 / 13

Jim Spears of the Roots Ensemble plays bass guitar on Christopher Mark Jones' latest album, "Looking for the Light."

11 / 13

Bryce Rabideau of the Roots Ensemble doubles on mandolin and electric guitar.

12 / 13

Eric George of the Roots Ensemble plays percussion during First Friday.

13 / 13

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Mt. Lebanon Fire Department Engine 2 complements the festivities.

They weren’t quite dancing in the street, but it was close enough.

On the first Friday of September, summer still was here and the time was right to resume a traditional Mt. Lebanon event, complete with folks grooving to music, sweet music.

“Mt. Lebanon has been doing First Friday for nearly 20 years, and it has been a phenomenal event. Obviously, with COVID, we had a year where we had to pause, and this year we had a delay,” said Eric Milliron, municipal commercial districts manager.

The event, organized by the municipality and the nonprofit Mt. Lebanon Partnership, usually occurs in June through August.

“We postponed it until September, and we’re going to attempt to run through November, if the weather cooperates,” Milliron said.

Opening night festivities took place primarily in Clearview Common, where Mt. Lebanon resident Christopher Mark Jones and his band, the Roots Ensemble, took to the stage.

The adjacent Alfred Street was closed to traffic at its Washington Road intersection except for one big, bright, shiny red vehicle parked there during the event. Not only did the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department bring its Engine 2 for close-up looks, but youngsters also were treated to a visit by the costumed Dalmatian mascot, Sparky.

The October First Friday, scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m., happens to fall on the first day of the month and also serves to kick off a noteworthy weekend: The Mt. Lebanon Artists Market, another Partnership event, makes its return that Saturday and Sunday, also following a year’s hiatus.

Providing First Friday music will be Dan Petrich, a Mt. Lebanon High School teacher and 1989 graduate of the same school, who has released two warmly received albums, “Sycamore Tales” and “Of Devils, Gods and Men.”

“People are stoked. They’re excited,” Milliron said. “And we’re looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and some new ones.”

Also along Washington Road, the Mt. Lebanon Uptown Market continues from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 30.

Meanwhile, work continues on the first phase of Mt. Lebanon’s Vibrant Uptown project, with the anticipated finish in the spring.

“It’s really going to be a radical refresh of the district for the first time in three decades,” Milliron said. “All the planters are going to be redone with irrigation and native plantings, bench seating, new lighting, better lighting, better accessibility for all of our residents. Lots of great stuff.”

For more information, visit mtlebopartnership.org.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today