Participating in Goshen First Fridays on Oct. 4 will give back to local businesses and nonprofits.

News Release

GOSHEN — With its October First Fridays festival, Goshen Gives Back, Downtown Goshen Inc. looks to reward Goshen and Elkhart County businesses and organizations.

As a show of gratitude for helping to make First Fridays such a thriving, important and impactful series, Goshen Gives Back — Friday, Oct. 4 from 5-9 p.m. — supports and ‘gives back’ to downtown businesses and area nonprofit organizations.

Participating restaurants, bars, retailers and merchants choose a Goshen-area nonprofit to sponsor and donate 10% of their First Fridays sales to their chosen partner charity. In this way, Goshen Gives Back encourages the First Fridays community to shop locally and feel great about shopping, dining and making great purchases in Downtown Goshen. Kids activities, amazing eating and drinking options, in-store events and live entertainment — including Lalo Cura, Abbie Thomas and Lavender Jazz — are also on the schedule for this family-friendly First Fridays celebration.

“There are so many businesses and organizations that support First Fridays and their support makes First Fridays possible,” said Amanda Rose, Director of First Fridays. “Goshen Gives Back is a way to turn the tables and make sure we — along with our community — are doing our part to ‘give back’ to local businesses and organizations because they play such a vital role to First Fridays and in Goshen’s growth and success. At Goshen Gives Back, when you shop local and make a purchase at a participating business, ten percent of those funds will be donated to a partner charity. People at the event can go about shopping, dining and having fun and at the same time be donating to worthy local charities and that’s what makes Goshen Gives Back a giant win for everyone involved.”

Downtown Goshen’s plentiful eating and drinking options are in the spotlight at Goshen Gives Back, with participating eateries offering unique and delicious First Fridays specials. Select downtown locations and businesses — in addition to donating 10% of their proceeds to their partner charity — offer special in-store promotions and host various fun activities for the young and the young at heart.

Among the highlights, Goshen Theater hosts Connectapalooza! — presented by Goshen College — from 5-9 p.m. Connectapalooza! features a pretzel bar, a special Goshen Brewing Company beer release, pictures with Dash the Squirrel, local artists and a special announcement to kick off homecoming weekend. This event will also feature live music from The Goshen Theater Miller Auditorium with Goshen College band Lavender Jazz at 5:30 p.m., acclaimed songwriter Abbie Thomas at 6:30 p.m. and local kings of Spanish Rock, Lalo Cura at 7:30 p.m. Art Alley provides German-inspired tunes from Octubafest and offers a chat session with the Goshen High School German Club. Goshen City Church of the Brethren presents the Lost Luggage Trio at 5:30 and Goshen First Church — in celebration of 150 years — offers a tour from 5-7:30 p.m. followed by refreshments from their Garden Room and s’mores on the lawn provided by Boy Scout Troop 5.

Activities for kids include a Create Your Own Bookmark session at Fables Books from 5-7 p.m and fall games and crafts — hosted by CAPS — at Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn. Young at Art offers interactive art activities for all ages at Maple City Market and the Goshen Historical Society provides its fall photo booth for selfies. Phoenix Performing Arts offers free face painting and free crafts throughout the evening.

Goshen Brewing Company pours its first pints of Broken Shield Amber Lager, brewed in collaboration with Goshen College, and presents live music from Organ Fairchild. Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn unveils Circus Cookie, its new flavor of the month, and Maple City Market presents their Fall Faire with a sampling of beer, wine and delicious treats. The Nut Shoppe offers buy two get one free on caramel apples and brittle. For those looking to shop local, Woldruff’s Footwear presents all-new brands like Kizik and Pikolinos alongside new fall favorites from Birkenstock, and Woldruff’s Apparel offers 25% off of all Beekman Natural Goat Milk products. Found offers 20% off all basement items, and Fables hosts a Meet the Authors event from 6-8 p.m.

Goshen Gives Back participants and partner charities:

• Braly’s Barber Den, 135 S. Main, contributes to VFW Post 985
• Common Spirits, 111 E. Lincoln Ave. — Ryan’s Place
• DN3D Prints, 114 E. Washington St. — Art House
• Elephant Bar, 227 S. Main — Campus Center for Young Children (CCYC)
• Fables Books, 215 S. Main — The Window
• Found, 208 S. Main — Goshen Historical Society
• Goshen Brewing Co., 315 W. Washington — Goshen College
• Hive of Light, 119 S. Main — Art House
• JoJo’s Pretzels, 136 S. Main — Friends of the Pumpkinvine
• Maple City Market, 314 S. Main — Phoenix Performing Arts
• Maple Indian Cuisine, 127 S. Main — Downtown Goshen, Inc.
• Shirley’s Popcorn, 106 N. Main — CAPS
• Soapy Gnome, 210 S. Main — Special Ed Co-op
• The Electric Brew, 118 E. Washington — Trees for Goshen
• The Green Bee, 111 E. Washington — Goshen Farmers Market
• The Nut Shoppe, 204 S. Main — Goshen Hospital Auxiliary
• Venturi, 123 E. Lincoln — Bashor Children’s Home

Find full event details for October First Fridays at DowntownGoshen.org.