Fate of Colfax First Thursday event may be up in the air

With two of the season’s First Thursdays in the books, Colfax Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory is looking toward next year and the future of the once-a-month event.

Gregory reported that she and volunteers from the Colfax Downtown Association will be working with business owners in the coming weeks and months to determine the scope for First Thursday.

“We’re going to do a survey with the businesses to see if they like Thursdays, to see if it’s effective and worth it for them,” she said.

Wanting to know just how the event, now in its second year, has impacted the businesses, Gregory said it is important to determine this because First Thursday is not about the bands or vendors, but rather the businesses.

“It’s all for the businesses. If they don’t want it, then we aren’t going to do it,” said Gregory.

First Thursday was started last year as an effort to bring people downtown. The idea was to have vendors line Main Street and also to have businesses stay open past their normal operating hours. Additionally, a promotion or contest has been tied to First Thursday as an incentive to get people shopping in the businesses.

Some of the businesses which initially agreed to stay open for later hours during the event are no longer doing so.

“I’m not doing this for the vendors,” said Gregory. “This is about helping the businesses. We want to know if they like it or if they want something else.”

Gregory reported that the last First Thursday on June 1, which featured Keith Niehenke and the Hankers, was one of the most successful.

“We had 250 people downtown,” she said.

A new vendor, a wood fired pizza company out of Palouse, made its first stop in Colfax and, after selling out, agreed to keep coming back.

“They sold out. They’re coming back for every single one now,” said Gregory. “And next time, Southfork should be here with a beer garden. People can have pizza and beer downtown.”

The remaining First Thursdays this year will be July 6, Aug. 3 and Sept. 7. Performers include Eric E. on July 6, Sammy Eubanks on Aug. 3 and Wylie and the Wild West on Sept. 7.

“I think September will be our biggest one with Wiley,” said Gregory.

The July First Thursday, two days after the fourth of July, will be themed Red, White and WIN! When a customer purchases an item at a business, they will be able to draw a card. If it has a red, white or blue dot, it can be entered to win prizes.

August’s will be “Blast from the Past!” and will feature a sock hop on Spring Street. The September event will see a return of last year’s harvest party and pea for a distance and hold your pea contests.

After September, the future of the First Thursday event will be determined.

“For right now, we’re still on,” said Gregory.