First Friday: Start your Fourth of July early in Chambersburg

CHAMBERSBURG >> Come to downtown Chambersburg Friday evening to get a jump start on your Fourth of July holiday weekend by sipping your way across town.

First Friday festivities from 5 to 8 p.m. July 3 will feature a Stars, Stripes and Straws best summer beverage competition. Participants may buy a glass ($3 or 2 for $5) on the courthouse plaza of Memorial Square and sample lemonades and iced tea variations offered at downtown businesses, and vote for their favorites. All ballots will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the participating business of their choice. (For a list, call 717-263-8529.)

• Music: Mountain Ride will perform from 5:30 to 8 on the courthouse plaza. A Pennsylvania bluegrass band adept with both progressive and traditional music, the band includes Eric Avey (guitar and vocals), Drew Jones (mandolin and vocals), Scott Matlock (fiddle and vocals), Corey Woodcock (banjo) and Kate Avey (bass and vocals).

Art: • Memorial Square will also be the site of local artists' displays, as well as flowers for sale by Everlasting Love Florist. The Franklin County Photographers Club's photo booth will be on courthouse plaza with outlandishly fun accessories for memorable photos. A Face Painting table will be in the second block of South Main Street (free, donations will be accepted), where there will also be give-aways for youngsters.

First Friday artists include Hannah Stephey, who will have drawings, paintings and specialty greeting cards; Heather Oliver with "Mixies Gems"; Autumn Sullivan with photographs and watercolors; Lara Rice with paintings; Barbara Randall with embroidery; Luke Oyler, NBA collages; Jeri DImoff, "Bohemian Fairies"; Henna by Melissa Deeken; and Photography by Robbie.

Council for the Arts of Chambersburg, 159 S. Main St., will host a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. for its "Focal Point" exhibit highlighting the camera work of four area photographers. Vince Ha, Meelika Mölder, Kaitlin Shadle and Constantine Vloutely will display a wide variety of photographic styles and subjects.

For more information about First Friday, call 717-263-8529.