First Fridays make a triumphant return in 2021! The event that traditionally takes place the first Friday of each month in the summer and early fall is back and kicking off this weekend in Haynie's Corner Arts District.

The event first began in 2016 and has continued to be a tradition in the arts district - with the exception of 2020 because, well... Covid. We are so excited to see it make its return in 2021. This month, the First Friday event celebrates PRIDE with a drag show as part of the nightly entertainment. The all-ages, family-friendly shows will take place at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm at the Haynie's Corner fountain.

Along with the drag show, there will also be live music beginning at 5:30 pm with , Bethany Gillespie, food trucks including Bruce Li, Pizza Revolution, Lolly's Pops and more, along with community vendors and artisans too. And of course, the wonderful businesses of the Haynie's Corner Arts District will all be open and ready to see you too.

Get our free mobile app

This is a great opportunity to get out with the family and enjoy the beautiful weather and the creativity and culture that is so rich in the city's historic Arts District. If you have never been to a First Friday event before, you're sure to want to make this a regular addition to your social calendar. When it comes to hosting events, Haynie's Corner knows just how to do it! We hope to see you there and we can't wait to see what event organizers have in store for us for the rest of the summer as well!

Illinois Town Will Make You Feel Like You are in the Movie HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS

Remember the 80s classic "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"? What's it like to feel like a tiny ant looking up at the giant world around you? There's a small town only two hours from the tri-state that is home to over 20 giant items. Being surrounded by them definitely gives you the perspective of an itty bitty bug.

Lacey Marsh and her family visited the small town during spring break this year and shared her photos with us. She said, "It's a really neat place! And people were very friendly."

For more on the attractions at Casey, IL, visit the website bigthingssmalltown.com.

Check Out This Massive Adventure Park in Branson

Branson, Missouri is a very popular destination for many tri-staters looking to get away. There's so much to do there, and this adventure park is a must see attraction.

The Ultimate Smoky Mountain Vacation

Some of my favorite vacations have been to go spend time in Gatlinburg, and soaking in those Smoky Mountains. Here's the must-see sights and must-do activities so you get the most out of your next Gatlinburg vacation!

SEE INSIDE: Nashville Church Converted Into Unique Hotel

Nashville has been on a never-ending journey to make itself more attractive to tourists for as long as any of us can remember. And East Nashville has fast become a boutique destination for travelers. So a beautiful and luxurious boutique hotel fits in perfectly.

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

 

More From WGBFAM