Green Day Celebration | May First Fridays
Friday, May 1, 5 – 9 p.m.
Outdoor adventures abound at this First Fridays environmental extravaganza! The Green Day Celebration features an abundance of green events and activities, including tree climbing and biking, a tree giveaway, an electric vehicle showcase, environmental discussions, and live music spotlighting local, homegrown bands and Goshen Elementary School choirs.
Booths on the Courthouse Lawn
City of Goshen – Community Relations Commission
Goshen Noon Kiwanis
Merry Lea Environmental Learning of Goshen College
Scouts BSA Troop 5 & 70
Entertainment
This environmental extravaganza, in collaboration with the Goshen Shade Tree Board and the Environmental Resilience Department, features many celebrations of the outdoors and sustainability awareness events and is centered on the Historic Courthouse Lawn. The ERD will be giving away multiple species of tree saplings, including American Plum, American Hornbeam, Black Gum, Persimmon, Bald Cypress, and Shingle Oak. And be sure to head a block south to check out an Electric Vehicle Showcase presented by MACOG.
- 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Community Yoga with Prairie Street Studios | Courthouse Lawn
Presented by Prairie Street Studios and All Ladies Running Club - 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Vinyl Habits | Silver Circle - 5:30 p.m.
Parkside and West Goshen Elementary Choirs | Courthouse steps - 6 p.m.
Arbor Day Proclamation and Award Ceremony | Courthouse steps - 6:30 – 7 p.m.
Native Plant Talk by Wild Ones | Silver Circle - 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Community Yoga with Prairie Street Studios | Courthouse Lawn
Presented by Prairie Street Studios and All Ladies Running Club - 6:30. p.m.
HartWood Treecare Climbing Demonstration | Courthouse Lawn - 7 – 9 p.m.
Vinyl Habits | Silver Circle - 7 p.m.
Tree Planting | Courthouse Lawn - 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Karaoke with Rhonda | Elks Lodge (220 N Main) - 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Zion Lion | First Fridays Main Stage
Our events operate with the love and help of volunteers and sponsors. Join us!
Food and Drink
Whether you’re looking for something healthy, plant-based – or just the color GREEN, downtown restaurants have options. In addition to our brick and mortar establishments, you can find quick eats with a selection of food trucks. Don’t forget to take all your recyclables to our Recycling Center!
- ONE VILLAGE (206 S Main) is highlighting the color green with Soup of Success’ Satisfying Spinach dip mix. Come by and try a sample!
- Enjoy specials like a Morel, Gruyere & pesto tartine on house-made bread or Zatar white bean dip with root veggie chips at Cortado (132 S Main)! They will also have samples out on the Courthouse lawn!
- Craving BBQ? Head to The Elks Lodge (220 N Main) for some Whole Hogz BBQ!
- Head to Common Spirits (21+) to grab green drinks such as their Garden Smash, The Hot One, and Pickle Spritzes! Hungry? Enjoy a selection of Banh Mi and Goi Ga.
- Surprise! Maple Indian will have their buffet ALL DAY! Head in and get your buffet fix!
- Maple City Market will serve up a variety of health foods, including veggie wraps packed to the max!
Arbor Day
Elementary School Art Locations
Model @Maple City Market and Golden Thread
Prairie View @Hive of Light
Waterford @Giving Tree Massage
West Goshen @Shirley’s Popcorn
Chamberlain @Fables Books, Catitude Cafe,
and Concrete Barber
Family Activities
Kids will love this opportunity to discover, see, and touch local animals at the Wildlife Petting Zoo on the Courthouse lawn, guided by the Elkhart-South Bend Aquatic Biology.
We will also have tree climbing activities with My Tree Climber on site to help children climb trees safely from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.!
Other activities include magic shows by Jep Hostetler, face-painting by Creative Facepainting by Diana, and flower pot decoration with ADEC .
- Garden City Church (134 S Main) will host a free kids craft and a fun, family‑friendly activity ready for you in their space. Stop by, get creative, and enjoy a welcoming spot to pause and play together in the middle of Downtown Goshen!
Shopping and Promotions
Downtown merchants have environmental, sustainable, fair-trade, and upcycled items to meet your needs.
- Buy one cat lounge session at Catitude Cafe (201 S Main), and receive a second one 50% off!
- Fables Books (215 S Main) presents a Meet the Authors event from 6 to 8 p.m. featuring local authors Karen B. Kurtz, Mark A. Kurtz, Kirsten L. Klassen, and Linda Hanstra. Be sure to check out their highlighted reads on nature, sustainability, and gardening.
- Found (208 S Main) will offer 20 percent off (almost) all midcentury and international paintings, prints, and other wall art throughout the weekend.
- Enjoy 10% off storewide and an extra 5% off for wearing green at The Green Bee (111 E Washington)!
- Stop by Maple City Market for their Green Day Wellness event, featuring Solar Living Farms Microgreens, and demos from Pura Vida Chica body care.
Be sure to also check out our featured members on the Courthouse Lawn: ADEC, DN3D Prints, The Post Youth Center, Symasis, and The Green Bee.
Well-Crafted Artisan Showcase
Seven Sisters
Silver Circle Resource Booths
Goshen Health
Green Oaks of Goshen
Greencroft
Senior Talk Michiana
Silver Circle
The Silver Circle, presented in part by Greencroft, Green Oaks of Goshen, Goshen Health, and Senior Talk Michiana, is a dedicated space designed as a welcoming gathering place for older adults. The Silver Circle creates an inclusive, comfortable environment that blends resources, connection, and entertainment in one centralized location.
Activities include:
- Free bouquets, provided by Fiore and Dolce, to the first 50 seniors!
- What’s the Buzz (and Chirp) about Native Plants for your Yard? will be presented at 6:30 p.m. by Wild Ones
- Tunes provided by Vinyl Habits
Handicap Parking will be available directly behind the Silver Circle on W Clinton St., across from First State Bank. Senior transports may also use this space with advance notice. If you plan on bringing your senior clients, please contact us as soon as possible at info@eyedart.com.
First Fridays Amenities
These amenities make it easy to enjoy the festival!
- Ride down with the family and park your bikes for FREE at our complimentary Bike Valet station, presented by the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition!
- Parents and guardians can enjoy the Goshen Health Mother’s Tent, which offers a comfortable space to nurse and change your littles!
- Take advantage of designated Handicap Parking located behind the Silver Circle.
Thank you Green Day Celebration First Fridays Sponsors!
Downtown Goshen Inc. and First Fridays are here to celebrate Goshen and the wonderful arts and community that we share. That means that if you attend an event in downtown Goshen, your image might appear in a future celebration of that event or a promotion of one of our future events. This is because our community is the most essential part of First Fridays! We pride ourselves in being an organization that celebrates everyone and will do our best to present you in the best way possible. We are incredibly proud and happy that you enjoy our events and that you are part of our fantastic community! Thank you for joining us at First Fridays and having fun in downtown Goshen.
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