First Friday York welcomes spring with outdoor activities, spring-themed events
If you go
What: First Friday
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 3
Where: Participating downtown locations
Parking: Beaver Street will be closed at 4:30 p.m. Free parking is available at meters on other downtown streets and parking garages after 5 p.m.
Hashtag: #FFYork
For more information: Visit downtownyorkpa.com .
Follow @AbbeyZelko13 on Twitter for live updates.
Goodbye winter, hello spring.
Downtown York is on a mission to bid adieu to Jack Frost and welcome spring with a Spring Fling-themed First Friday.
About 60 downtown restaurants and shops will participate in the first First Friday of spring with outdoor activities, island-themed food and cocktails and even a few Easter egg hunts from 5 to 9 p.m.
Meagan Feeser, Downtown Inc. director of marketing, said she expects the spring theme and spring weather to draw a larger turnout this month.
"We've been getting teased here with one nice day every now and then, so I think people are itching to get out," she said.
For the first time this year, First Friday will shut down Beaver Street at 4:30 p.m. to make room for three food trucks: Soul Burrito from York, Bountiful Feast from Lititz and Sugar Whipped Confections from Lancaster, Feeser said.
Warmer weather will also allow for more outdoor festivities, including live music outside the White Rose Bar & Grill and injury prevention exercises by WellSpan Health outside Central Market.
Escape Games Live , a new attraction that locks guests in a room until they can correctly solve a puzzle, will also set up a booth on Beaver Street with refreshments, information and a chance to win a free game room.
Many of the indoor events will also keep the spring spirit alive as the Royal Square neighborhood transforms into an island. Check out these spring-inspired events.
Watch "Gilligan's Island": Catch an episode of this classic TV show, while sipping island-themed drinks and eating tropical fruit skewers at Redeux , 113 S. Duke St.
Get a beach braid: What better way to spring into warmer weather than with a new beach do? DiDi & Smiling John's, 119 S. Duke St., will give customers hair wraps and braids while they enjoy island-inspired food and drinks.
It's bubble tea time: Test out the Parliament's make-your-own drink bar and tropical bubble tea, available for one night only. Also check out the Parliament's "Old and New" art exhibition at 116 E. King St.
The Hive turns Hawaiian: The first 25 customers will be greeted with a free lei at Hive Artspace , 126 E. King St. Guests will also enjoy tiki-themed refreshments, beer samples by The Beer Ace, channeled Tarot readings and a first look at the Hive's April exhibit, "Kitsch & Camp," featuring fun, quirky artwork.
Win a prize egg: All purchases at York City Pretzel Company , 39 W. Market St., and Baron Von Schwein , 35 W. Market St., come with an Easter egg filled with prizes like free root beers, pretzels and T-shirts. The first 50 happy hour guests at The Offcenter Grill , 48 E. Market St., will also receive a Mystery Easter Egg filled with prizes. Happy hour includes live music, half-off wings and fish bites and $2 off fajitas and top shelf liquor from 5 to 9 p.m.
More First Friday festivities to check out
Adopt a dog: My Girlfriend's Wardrobe will have some canine customers Friday night. PACK-9 Rescue Will be in the store with adoptable dogs from 5 to 9 p.m.
Doris Day tribute: The Unforgettable Big Band will release Dover songwriter Tonia Grubb's tribute song "Brighten Up Your Day With a Little Doris Day" at Elks Lodge, 233 N. George St. Tickets to the show are $10. Call 717-870-6861 or email bemccubbin@gmail.com for tickets.
This and That: Check out the newly formed local duo This and That. Tony Cameron and Korin Dietz will perform from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Tutoni's Restaurant , 108 N. George St.
Café grand opening: Get a sneak peek of Healthy World Café , 24 S. George St., before its grand opening April 6. The pay-how-you-can community café will have music from Vinyl Souls, beer tastings and a full menu of locally sourced sandwiches, soups, salads, hummus and cookies.