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STEUBENVILLE -- First Fridays on Fourth resume this evening, with plenty of food, music and fun on tap for area residents.
The Harmonium Project's Marc Barnes said the fun starts at 6 p.m. in the 100 block of North Fourth Street, the 100 block of South Fourth street and also Market Street between Court and Commercial streets.
Tonight's theme is "Street Music," he said.
"Street musicians will be coming to play in all different parts of 4th Street and put their hat out for tips," he said. "I think it will add to the atmosphere of the whole night. It would be great if people would make it worth their while but it's all for the musicians, not us."
They're also doing a citywide drum circle. All are invited to join the fun.
"We're inviting people to bring percussion instruments, we'll be teaching everyone a rhythm to play," Barnes said. "Then one of our bands on the main stage will play along with the rhythm everyone produces."
Barnes said they'll be doing "sort of a simple rhythm" that he thinks everyone can master.
"We're hoping for harmony, not chaos," he said. "We'll see if Steubenville's got rhythm."
He also said they've got "more vendors than ever" lined up for the festival.
"There's a lot of new folks," he said. "There's also quite a few businesses that have opened on 4th Street, especially the pottery studio and the grocery store, so I think there'll be a lot of new participants with their own unique part to add to the whole experience."
Among the highlights:
• Main stage: Norside Organ Trio, 6-7:15 p.m.; Murphy Givens: 7:45-9 p.m. and Big Blitz: 9:30-11 p.m.
• Pocket Park Stage: Jay Michaels: 6-7:15 p.m.; DC Cardelli, 7:45-9:15 p.m.; Street Music Showcase: 9:15 p.m.
• Green Space: Kid's LEGO Free Build, 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Different this year, he said, is where the main bar will be set up.
"(It will be) in the middle of things, in the middle of the Market Street intersection," he said. "This year, there's a big emphasis on trying to get people to walk the whole festival. We were getting a lot of feedback from people who say they barely saw anything, just the stage or a couple vendors. (This year) we're trying to have people move from (one end of the festival to the other)."
He said brick-and-mortar businesses will be represented as well as local food trucks.