June Bingo party will launch Colfax First Thursday series

Colfax is about to turn into a party scene once a month for the Colfax First Thursday event sponsored by the Colfax Downtown Association and Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re going to have vendors downtown, and music and businesses are going to be staying open later,” said Valoree Gregory, Colfax’s unified executive director. “I think First Thursdays are going to be fun. The businesses are excited.”

The first First Thursday will be June 2.

The First Thursdays will feature fresh produce, craft vendors, live music and events, promotions and contests. It will be in place of the traditional Colfax Farmer’s Market and will be a monthly event all year round.

“We’re going to keep them going,” Gregory vowed on the First Thursday program.

“It’s going to be our farmer’s market also because there will be fresh produce vendors,” Gregory said. “Some of the younger people in town have said it will be great, and it’s not a huge festival, but it will get people downtown. We’re doing it for the town and doing it to get our local people out.”

Each of the First Thursdays will have a special theme, and the list of themes for the first year has been set already.

“For June, we’re having a Bingo Block Party,” Gregory said.

Gregory said the businesses and vendors will each have numbers, and people can get the numbers by going around to the different businesses and vendors. If the business or vendor has a number that matches one on the card, that spot can then be marked off.

Themes for other months include July - Red, White and Win!; August - Blast from the Past – 1950’s night!; September - Harvest Party – Celebration of Farmers!; October - Creepy Colfax – Halloween fun and ghost tours; November - Thanks for Giving! Customer appreciation day; December - Winterfest celebration; January - It’s a New Year Party!; February - Mardi Gras; March - March Madness; April - Rainy Daze; and May - Garden Party.

“Probably the funnest one is in September,” she said. “Harvest party. We have great events planned. We’ll have big bags of peas, and you will throw the bag. The person who throughout the day throws the farthest will receive a t-shirt. It’s going to be fun!”

The t-shirt will read: “I Pead for Distance!”

Gregory said there may be another pea-related event there which would involve business owners competing to see which could hold a bag of peas over their head the longest.

“The winner of that one will receive a t-shirt that says ‘I Held My Pea!’,” Gregory said. “We’re really thinking outside the boxes. I have no limits, whatsoever.”

Gregory said fun events similar to the pea-related ones will be at each First Thursday, and the events will likely fit the month’s theme.

“We’ll have some fun things going on,” she said. “It seemed like a pretty simple way to get people involved.”

Gregory said there is still space for vendors, too. Vendor cost to participate will be $15.

“We’ll have people who have fresh produce, crafters and maybe some non-profits,” she said. “Pretty much anything, but we don’t want yard sale-type stuff.”

City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello is in charge of vendors, so those interested can sign up by contacting him at city hall. Gregory said several businesses are planning to stay open later than usual for First Thursdays.

“We’re still trying to figure out everyone who’s going to stay open, but we have a pretty good list,” she said.

Gregory listed some of the businesses with plans for staying open, which include Tick Klock Drug, Hen House Chicks, Fonks Coffeehouse, Flowers & More, Abundant Faith Studio and the Hyde Out, among others.

“Stores have said they would stay open until 6:30, but if there are people on the street they’ll stay open later,” Gregory said.

Proceeds from First Thursday events will go to the Downtown Association. Gregory said these funds will end up benefitting Colfax businesses.

“We are trying to raise some money for storefront grants so we can help owners spruce up downtown,” she said.

Anyone interested in being a vendor can contact Rizzitiello at city hall. The $15 fee for vendors covers the peddlers fee and can be paid at city hall. The $15 charge is for the entire year. Vendors, Gregory said, will be assigned space in front of vacant buildings and businesses not staying open for the event.

Each First Thursday will begin at 3 p.m. and go until 6:30 p.m. The live music, organized by Steve Larkin, will be at the corner of Spring and Main Street from 3 to 7 p.m.

More information at colfaxwa.org and explorecolfax.com.