If you are ready to celebrate and enjoy the outdoors with friends, family, and loved ones, you won’t have to wait long!
Mark the arrival of Spring, and full-on outdoor First Friday festivities, with the annual Green Day Celebration, May 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. The popular environmental extravaganza features green events and activities for revelers of all ages, shopping and dining deals, environmental discussions, and live music, including performances by Goshen Elementary School choirs.
Presented in collaboration with the Goshen Shade Tree Board and Goshen’s Environmental Resilience Department, the Green Day Celebration—centered on the Courthouse Lawn—presents sustainability awareness events, a tree giveaway, an electric vehicle showcase presented by MACOG, tree climbing and biking, and a complimentary bike valet, sponsored by the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition, for attendees who promote sustainability by arriving on bikes.
Musical performers include Goshen’s popular DJ outfit, Vinyl Habits, along with regional reggae band Zion Lion as the event headliner. In addition, the event features the Well Crafted Artisan Showcase—presented by the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau—and a dedicated Silver Circle space—presented in part by Green Oaks of Goshen, Goshen Health, and Senior Talk Michiana—which serves as a welcoming, inclusive, and comfortable gathering place for older adults.
Say goodbye to winter, and hello to the first true joys of spring, by joining us at the Green Day Celebration!
Green Day Celebration entertainment schedule
- 5 – 6:30 PM
Vinyl Habits at the Silver Circle - 5:30 PM
Parkside and West Goshen Elementary Choirs on the Courthouse steps - 6 PM
Arbor Day Proclamation and Award Ceremony on the Courthouse steps - 6:30 – 7 PM
Native Plant Talk by Wild Ones at the Silver Circle - 6:30 PM
HartWood Treecare Climbing Demonstration on the Courthouse Lawn - 7 – 9 PM
Vinyl Habits at the Silver Circle - 7 PM
Tree planting on the Courthouse Lawn - 7:30 – 9 PM
Zion Lion on the First Fridays Main Stage
Food, drinks, and eco-friendly joy in all forms
Green Day revelers are encouraged to visit brick and mortar establishments to experience foods that are healthy, plant-based, or the color GREEN, and an incredible assortment of food trucks—including Hay Huey, Jakes Foods, Kona Ice, LifePoint Church, Ojitos Lindos, Pinyos Kitchen, Rulli’s, Shirley’s Popcorn, Tropicana Ice Cream, and Wiener Shack—bring even more options to the table. Attendees are encouraged to kindly take all recyclables to the event’s Recycling Center.
The Green Day Celebration’s Well Crafted Artisan Showcase features talented local artists and makers specializing in handmade goods. The showcase highlights curated finds, fine art, and locally crafted items. The Silver Circle for older adults features tunes by Vinyl Habits, a bouquet-building bar, and a native plant talk at 6:30 p.m. presented by Wild Ones.
Kids will love having the opportunity to discover, see, and touch local animals at the Wildlife Petting Zoo on the Courthouse Lawn, guided by Elkhart-South Bend Aquatic Biology, and My Tree Cimber is on hand to present two sessions of tree climbing activities, one session from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and a second session from 7 to 8:30. Additional activities for kids include magic shows by Jep Hostetler, face-painting by Creative Facepainting by Diana, and flower pot decoration provided by ADEC.
Fables Books, 215 South Main Street, 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. At Catitude Cafe, 210 S. Main St., purchasers of one cat lounge session get a second session (of the same duration) at 50% off, and The Green Bee is one of our featured members to be presented on the Courthouse lawn.
Additional booths on the Courthouse Lawn include
- Bethany Christian Schools
- Bushelcraft Farms
- City of Goshen – Community Relations Commission
- Elkhart County Parks
- Elkhart County SWCD
- Elkhart Environmental Center
- Excel Center
- Goodwill of Michiana
- Goshen College: STEM Camp
- Goshen Health
- Goshen Kid Council
- Goshen Parks and Recreation
- Goshen Ultimate Summer League
- Merry Lea Environmental Learning of Goshen College
- Mosaic in Northern Indiana
- Nest and Grow
- NIPSCO
- Scouts BSA Troop 5 & 70
- Sleep in Heavenly Peace
- Student Conservation Association
- Trees for Goshen
- Wellfield Botanic Gardens
Parents and guardians are encouraged to enjoy the Goshen Health Mother’s Tent, which offers a comfortable space to nurse and change little ones, and a designated Handicap Parking area is located behind the Silver Circle.
A Call for 2026 Volunteers and Sponsors
Events presented by Downtown Goshen, Inc. operate with the love and help of the entire community. Volunteers and sponsors are absolutely crucial to our mission of providing free, family-friendly, dynamic, and exciting community events for folks throughout Elkhart County—and beyond—to enjoy with loved ones.
Individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in sponsoring a 2026 First Fridays event can find more information and fill out the sponsorship form on the First Fridays sponsorship landing page.
Additionally, both corporate and individual volunteering opportunities are still available for the 2026 season of events, and there are wonderful perks involved for both individual and corporate volunteers.
More at downtowngoshen.org/volunteer.
The Green Day Celebration, May 1 from 5-9 p.m., invites First Friday revelers to get outdoors, reconnect with the world, and welcome the arrival of spring. This eco-friendly extravaganza features green events and activities for all ages, shopping and dining deals, environmental discussions, and live music. Presented in collaboration with the Goshen Shade Tree Board and Goshen’s Environmental Resilience Department, the Green Day Celebration—centered on the Courthouse lawn—also presents sustainability awareness events, a tree giveaway, an electric vehicle showcase presented by MACOG, tree climbing and biking, the Well Crafted Artisan Showcase, and a free bike valet for attendees arriving on non-motorized wheels.