A new event will bring music and art to Clarks Summit while encouraging the public to shop locally.
Fourth Fridays in Clarks Summit will feature artists, musicians and other creative individuals performing or making art inside and outside of businesses. The event is Friday from 5-8 p.m. Events are also scheduled for July 24, Aug. 28 and Sept. 25.
Hosted by the Abington Business and Professional Association, the events will include promotions, pop-ups, food and drinks. They will be held rain or shine.
Milena DelVecchio, the association’s treasurer, said members have wanted to do a monthly event for a while. The association previously held Summit Saturdays but they changed the day to Friday because neighboring towns hold similar events on the second Saturday of the month. They chose the fourth Friday of the month to make it unique.
“We wanted to have a First Friday situation, which is more nationally known, but we didn’t want to compete with Scranton (First Fridays), so we made it Fourth Friday,” she said.
It provides more visibility to the businesses in Clarks Summit and the surrounding area, and a chance for the public to experience arts and culture, said DelVecchio, who owns Parabello on State Street. The dates also fit the association’s schedule, which is mostly free during the summer.
More than 25 artists have agreed to show and sell their work Friday at about 20 businesses on State Street and outside of Clarks Summit, including Woods and Company in South Abington Twp., and No. 27 Cafe in Clarks Green.
“We really tried to include anyone and everyone who wanted to participate,” DelVecchio said.
Association member Cara Colombo, an artist from Glenburn Twp., created a map showing where each artist and musician will be located and which businesses are participating. The map will be available at participating businesses. She also helped coordinate with the artists and businesses.
Some of the artists that will be at Friday’s event plan to participate in future Fourth Fridays, while others plan to participate for the first time at later events. DelVecchio said having different artists at each event, along with volunteers who put it together, makes it special.
“We just hope that people will come out and walk around town and enjoy and maybe discover a new place or business that they didn’t know existed before,” she said. “As a business owner, I’m just looking forward to the foot traffic and having people in town and really putting on display what Clarks Summit is all about.”
DelVecchio said although Fourth Fridays in Clarks Summit is a summer event, the association would love to continue it into the fall if people support it enough.
Colombo said the variety of participating artists is incredible and hopes the community will see the talent they have when they come out. Among the artists is Colleen Ruddy, who has performed with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
“I think that really says a lot about our community,” she said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to enjoy and get out and feel the love for our area.”