Three Years of 'Firsts'

Friday may be April Fool’s Day, but the borough’s First Friday celebration is no joke.

In fact, this month’s installment of the evening downtown arts celebration marks the three-year anniversary of the wildly successful collaborative effort that brings together live music, art and crafts on the sidewalks and storefronts of Hatboro’s bustling business district.

Besides taking in free tunes and art demonstrations throughout town, visitors can take advantage of businesses staying open later – and in some cases offering discounts or specials - as part of First Friday, which runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the first Friday of every month.

Modeled after Doylestown’s First Friday program, Hatboro’s monthly program debuted on April 4, 2008 and was the brainchild of CFO Al Chagan, according to Meredith Baker, operations manager.

“That’s his baby,” Baker said in a previous interview.

Even though the chamber puts on First Friday, and about 30 borough businesses participate, event chairman Marty Palmer said peddling goods and boosting business is not and has never been the intent.

“The main mission of First Friday Hatboro is really a celebration of the arts,” Palmer said. “It’s not primarily focused on bringing people out to the town to spend money.”

And, especially in tough economic times, Palmer said First Friday Hatboro offers a night of free entertainment for people of all ages to enjoy.

“There’s no fee to walk up and down the streets of Hatboro,” Palmer said. “It’s an evening where (people) don’t have to spend money if they don’t want to.”

In terms of foot traffic, Palmer said 500 plus people stroll through town each First Friday, taking in the sights and sounds beginning at around on South York Road and continuing up to on North York Road.

The arts offerings for Friday’s milestone are as unique as the shops that line the borough’s business district. Visitors can see everything from Irish dance to a Frank Sinatra impersonator and much more. Click here for a complete entertainment list.

And while it may be true that April showers bring May flowers, neither rain nor snow will cancel Friday’s celebration, organizers said.

Want to know what’s in store for future First Friday Hatboro events? Here’s a list of tentative themes for the rest of 2011:

May 6: Off to the Races

June 3: Here Comes Summer

July 1: All American Celebration; People and Pet Parade

August 5: National Night Out

September 2: Community Night

October 7:  Fall into Hatboro and Kickoff for Hatboro Haunts

November 4: Harvest Festival

December 2: Annual Tree Lighting, Visit from Santa and Neighborhood Caroling