First Fridays, held in Downtown Florence on the first Friday of each month, offers attractions for all kinds of interests. Local vendors are able to showcase and sell their artwork or merchandise. There are tables lining Court Street covered with jewelry, paintings and all sorts of homemade goodies.

Local, talented artists can be heard from the Billy Reid stage, located at Mobile Plaza. There are many other musicians scattered down the sidewalks of Court Street.

This month there were three 100-pound pumpkins dropped at the intersection of Mobile and Court Streets. Adults and children alike counted down to the drop and watched in amazement when the pumpkins exploded on the pavement.

Also showcased this month is the artwork of Chris Rutledge. This unique artist set up shop next to Ricatoni’s Italian Restaurant and created his works right in front of his First Friday visitors. Rutledge laid the canvas on the ground, poured paint onto it and then tap danced to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

If you haven’t experienced First Friday for yourself, I encourage you to check it out!