First Fridays August 7th!

First Fridays August 7th!

First Fridays began more than a decade ago to offer an fun night time experience in Downtown Racine.  Shops stayed open late, live music filled the streets, bars & restaurants were hopping with happy patrons checking out the dozens of family owned establishments and cuisine from around the world.  Monument Square became First Friday’s center stage with bands and a beer garden that hundreds looked forward to.  It evolved into one of the most exciting events in downtown every month.

With COVID-19, First Friday’s has evolved, as necessary to respond to the COVID-19 virus.   First Fridays will begin again on August 7th, but on a smaller scale…without gatherings and live music on Monument Square, we encourage visitors to explore, rather than gather in groups.  Restaurants will have outdoor seating options.  Music will be scattered throughout downtown, but as one-person shows, rather than full on bands.  We hope that by bringing back First Fridays, our community will take the opportunity to support the small locally owned family businesses that call downtown home.  The businesses that the community turns to for donations for fundraisers and other causes are now in need of support in the form of shoppers and diners!

With that said, both Dan, Amanda, Margaret, Jeremy & DeAnna are excited to welcome you to hot shop glass to see what we’ve been up to.  We ask that you practice physical distancing and wear a mask when you visit.  (Unlike the photo below pre-covid)

Hot Shop Glass, 239 Wisconsin Ave, is creating some hot summer fun during First Fridays!  The new glass fusing studio is open with reservations for visitors to create at 1pm., 3:30 and 6pm.  In the hot shop, artists will turn 2000º molten glass into art right before your eyes, blowing garden art & glassware for cool summer beverages!  Don’t miss a visit to coolest spot downtown!

Dan’s demonstrations are always entertaining!