First Thursday today features Sammy Eubanks

The August rendition of the monthly First Thursday event is slated today in Colfax from 3-7 p.m., with Blues performer Sammy Eubanks, more than 25 vendors, prizes, a pre-loved art sale and a beer garden.

The fun will get started around 3 p.m. when vendors will set up along Main Street. The Explore Colfax booth will be at Spring and Main streets where volunteers will collect receipts from customers so they can earn prizes.

Colfax Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory said customers of businesses and vendors can turn in their receipts at the booth for a chance to spin the wheel.

“It’s shop, spin and win,” said Gregory. “People can shop all day anywhere in Colfax, and then we have this big wheel and you spin it for prizes. The more you shop, the more you could win.”

Prizes include Colfax t-shirts and retro candy necklaces, among other things.

The receipt format was used with success in June to enter customers for prizes, and Gregory said it will likely stick around.

“It’s easier for the businesses because they don’t have to remember to give customers anything but a receipt,” said Gregory. “And it gets the vendors involved too, which is kind of fun.”

Gregory said she has 29 vendors signed up for the event today, though she knows of two or three who have already said they will not be able to show up. One vendor not showing up is the wood stone pizza vendor who has been at the last two events.

“He has another event, but he will be back for the next one,” said Gregory.

In place of a food vendor for this month will be a benefit dinner for the Amy Kraut family. The dinner will cost $10 per person and will go to benefit the family which has had three of the four Kraut children diagnosed with Alport Syndrome in the last year, the same disease which took the life of their father. Pulled pork sandwiches will be served, and three silent auction items will be raffled off.

The benefit dinner will be on E. Spring Street from 5 to 7 p.m.

Sammy Eubanks will also take the stage at 5 p.m. The Blues performer, whose wife is from Colfax, will perform for two hours on the Spring Street stage. Gregory commented that there will be tents erected at the stage to help with heat-related issues.

“The heat hurt our numbers in July because it was so hot,” she said.

The heat actually led to a discussion of whether or not the entertainment should be moved to a later time so that it would be cooler. The decision was made to keep the 5-7 p.m. time slot this year, but a change may be in the works for next year.

“The Chamber is going to meet to discuss a time,” said Gregory.

Gregory said Huber Action Freight has donated some tents to be used today.

“We’re going to provide as much shade as we possibly can,” she said. “That five o’clock time was unbearable last month.”

The Colfax Arts Council has also planned a pre-loved art sale for today. Previously used art, art supplies, frames, boards, mat cutters and framing tools will be on sale from 3-7 p.m.

Also slated for a 5 p.m. start is a new feature for First Thursday: a beer garden. Fonks will host the garden near the Spring Street stage.

“This is the first time, it will be good,” commented Gregory.

The first 24 beer garden customers will receive a free beer cozy that says “Fonks” and “Ghost towns happen when you don’t drink local.”

Fonks plans to close at 3:30 p.m. today to set up the beer garden.