Columbia City Connect wrapped up the 2026 First Fridays season in October with a busy evening of fall activities, live music, local shopping and community connections in downtown Columbia City.
From May through October, five First Fridays events brought residents and visitors downtown for themed activities, entertainment and opportunities to support local businesses. Each event offered something different, from hands-on activities for families to live music, shopping and community resources.
The October Fall in Love with Downtown event brought families and visitors to the courthouse square for pumpkin painting, live music and an outdoor showing of Halloweentown. The Columbia City Marching Eagles kicked off the evening with a performance, while Cicadas the Band provided the soundtrack for a night of fall fun.
Families painted pumpkins, took photos with Dixie, the vintage van from Vintage Blessed General Store, and explored vendor booths. Food truck lines filled the streets as downtown businesses welcomed guests late into the evening.
Health & Wellness Alley added a new dimension to the First Fridays experience in 2026. Local health, wellness and community service organizations shared information, resources and services with attendees, helping residents connect with organizations that support community well-being.
2026 Season Highlights
The season featured five First Fridays events, each with its own theme and activities:
- May – Touch-a-Truck and The Launchpad: Hands-on activities and opportunities to explore downtown.
- June – Motorcycle Show: A new addition that brought motorcycle enthusiasts and visitors downtown.
- August – Carnival on the Square: Carnival games and entertainment created a festive atmosphere.
- September – Game On!: Board games, classic arcade games, yard games, a racing simulator, live music and an outdoor showing of The Princess Bride.
- October – Fall in Love with Downtown: Pumpkin painting, the Columbia City Marching Eagles, Cicadas the Band, Health & Wellness Alley and Halloweentown on the courthouse lawn.
July brought the community together for Stars, Stripes & Symphony, a special Independence Day celebration in place of a First Fridays event.
Throughout the season, First Fridays encouraged people to spend time downtown, whether they came to shop with local vendors, enjoy a meal, listen to music, participate in activities or simply gather with family and friends.
One moviegoer captured the impact of these events after an earlier Movie on the Square, thanking the First Fridays committee and saying, “This was so special for us to spend time as a family. Thank you for putting this together.”
That sentiment reflects the purpose of First Fridays: creating opportunities for people to connect with one another while experiencing downtown Columbia City. The events also give local businesses and vendors opportunities to meet customers and introduce visitors to what downtown has to offer.
Columbia City Connect thanks the vendors, volunteers, sponsors, downtown businesses, entertainment partners and community organizations who helped make the 2026 season possible. Their time, talent and support helped bring each event to life.
First Fridays supports Columbia City Connect’s ongoing work to strengthen downtown businesses, encourage community connections and make downtown a place where people want to spend time.
For more information about Columbia City Connect and upcoming downtown events, visit columbiacityconnect.com or follow Columbia City Connect on Facebook and Instagram.
