Visitors fly like bugs and float like butterflies to all the attractions at Third Friday Downtown in Lincoln

 

[May 23, 2022] 

The first Third Friday Downtown Lincoln of 2022 can only be described as a roaring success with hundreds of people coming out to spend an evening in the heart of the city. Threats of rain earlier in the day dissipated, leaving cloudy skies and at times some pretty gusty winds, but with mild temperatures seemed to help put everyone in a good mood.

All four sides of the Logan County Courthouse Square were filled with vendors, entertainment, fun games and activities, giving visitors a non-stop experience from food to music to games for the kids and much more.

The theme for the first event of the season was Bugs and Butterflies to go along with the ribbon cutting at the new Monarch Flyway that was held at 6 p.m.

With such a theme there was a lot of attention given to featuring displays that reflected nature, and of course bugs.



Lincoln Street and Alleys Superintendent Walt Landers and wife Julie were on hand with a display about Lincoln’s Tree City U.S.A. designation, which the city has held for the past 21 years.

Logan County Tourism Director Alice Roate and Tourism Assistant Lexie Groves had a table set up with information and merchandise representing Route 66, and were also applying free non-permanent butterfly tattoos to anyone who desired one.

There were 16 downtown businesses that also got into the spirit of the theme offering bug related items at discounted prices.

The butterfly shaped pizza with a breadstick in the center was a popular delicious item offered at Sorrento’s Pizzeria, and Top Hat Creamery was offering the “Route 66 Gives Me Butterflies” sundae.

Guest House was offering butterfly sugar cookies and the Lincoln Arts Institute was offering free butterfly activities for kids.

Other businesses participating in the specials included Spirited Republic, Sir Renna Tea, Indigo Quilt Studio, The Bee, Heart of Grace Art Studio, Idle Hour, Rio Grande, Blue Dog, The Rusty Rail, Small Town Creations, Flossie’s, and Mystic Rose.



Broadway Street was dedicated to fun and games for the kiddos including the Heritage in Flight Museum offering free rides in their child-sized flight simulator.
 

McLean Street was an artist’s alley, with local artisans offering their items for sale, the arts institute was open for guests to visit this month’s exhibit “Collapse Rome on Your Own.”

Bug themed sidewalk chalk activities were permitted on the wide walkway leading to the Logan County Courthouse.

Artist Brian Simpson was also at the LAI on the porch, offering free portrait drawings to any who wished to sit and pose for the artist.



On Pekin Street, The Railsplitter Antique Auto Club hosted a car show.

Spirited Republic was open and guests were enjoying the opportunity to just sit a spell and enjoy a refreshment.

The Traveling Top Hat was selling lots of ice cream along with spun sugar, made as the customers watched.



At the intersection of Pekin and Kickapoo Streets, Harmony Girts had their band set up. The popular band that had performed multiple times in Lincoln drew a large crowd as visitors took the opportunity to sit down, listen to good music, and in some cases, enjoy food purchased from the many vendors along Kickapoo Street.

On Kickapoo Street, both sides of the street were lined with vendors. Some were offering products for sale, while others where promoting their business, organization or an upcoming event they were planning.

All-in-all, it was a great evening with many, many people coming out to take advantage of the mild weather and enjoy all that the heart of the city has to offer.

The Third Friday committee is planning two more events this summer. The next will be June 17th and the final event will be hosted on July 15th. The remaining events will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., weather permitting, with each event focused around a special theme.

[Nila Smith]