Water Slides, Beer Garden and Lindsey McKay: A Look at the July First Friday Lineup

Keith Heffintrayer•

For those who choose to forgo the beaches and stay home for the Fourth of July Weekend, Discover Lansdale has a festive, water-themed First Friday just for you!

July’s Wet’n Wild First Friday, scheduled for July 5, will feature a variety of water-themed activities, including two water slides, a water balloon battle, water displays from the Fairmount Fire Company and Telford Dive Unit, a dunk tank with Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert and more.

For those who prefer to stay dry, the event will also feature the common staples of the 2019 First Friday season, including live entertainment, food trucks, a pop-up beer garden and more.

See below for more information.

WATER-THEMED ACTIVITIES

This month’s themed activities include two water slides, which will be located next to Railroad Plaza, water demonstrations by the Fairmount Fire Company and Telford Dive Unit on Susquehanna Avenue, and a water balloon battle on South Wood Street.

The location of the dunk tank will be either Railroad Plaza or South Wood Street, and will feature Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert, and possibly North Penn Now Editor Keith Heffintrayer.

FOOD TRUCKS AND VENDORS

Organizers expect to have more than six food trucks, with another handful of non-vehicle food vendors throughout the event space.

Food trucks will include:

• Dump and Roll

• K’s Kitchen

• The Little Sicilian

• Downtown Scoop

• Flying Pie Guy

• Waffle Mamasand more

Food trucks will be lined up single-file on Madison Street at Railroad Plaza. Additionally, non-vehicle food vendors will be placed along South Wood Street and inside the beer garden, including Cuban sandwiches, curly fries, Wister’s Barbecue, Mama Thai and more.

ENTERTAINMENT

July's First Friday will feature music at three locations: Lindsey McKay on the stage at South Wood Street, DJ Chris Evans at Railroad Plaza and DJ Tone Arm at the beer garden. Music and performances will begin at each location at 6:30 p.m. and end around 9:30 p.m.

BEER GARDEN

The First Friday Pop-Up Beer Garden has bolstered its offerings for its second season, with an emphasis on more choice and more fun. The lineup for July includes beverages from Round Guys, Well Crafted, Free Will, Boardroom Spirits, McAllisters, Stone and Key and Cardinal Hollow Winery.

Additionally, there will be new tables and chairs, new lighting, corn-hole games, Giant Jenga, Wister’s Barbecue, Mama Thai’s and Mainland Grille. (Guests must be 21+ to drink, with identification, and beverages cannot cannot be carried beyond the Garden area.)

KIDS' ZONE

The Kids' Zone will be located at Railroad Plaza for the duration of the season, though offerings and activities will vary from month to month.

For July, the Kid’s Zone will feature a bounce house, two water slides, a magician and the return of fan-favorite balloon artist Scott Myers.

PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT

A photo scavenger hunt has been added as a recurring activity for each First Friday in the 2019 season, with a winner being drawn at the end of each event.

Seven photos will be added to the Facebook event page in the days leading up to the event. To participate, you must be able to identify all seven locations, write them down (along with your name and contact info), and submit it at the Discover Lansdale booth at Railroad Plaza by 9 p.m.

A winner will then be drawn at random, who will receive a prize package from Montella’sworth upwards of $150.

TIMING, WEATHER, CONTACT INFO

This season, First Fridays begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m. Road closures include South Wood Street from Main to Courtland, Madison Street from Main to the end of the one-way, and Susquehanna Ave. from Main to Courtland.

Should there be a threat of inclement weather, a decision will be announced by 1 p.m. regarding whether or not the event will be held. There is no rain date for First Fridays.

Anyone seeking additional information should email [email protected].

(Note: the author of this article is also the chairman of Discover Lansdale’s First Friday Committee)