PUTNAM — The First Fridays “road trip” continues with a stop in one of New England’s favorite cities – Boston.  July 1, downtown Putnam will be full of sights and sounds associated with this City of Champions. From 6 to 9 p.m., the public is invited to join in the festivities with over 40 vendors, live music and performances, outdoor dining, and gallery openings. 

For more information, go to: www.discoverputnam.com.  

With Independence Day only a few days after the event, it is fitting that the July First Fridays is celebrating Boston. Nicknamed “The Cradle of Liberty,” Boston is a uniquely patriotic city, with its many historical sites and passionately loyal residents. Fittingly, the headlining band for the event is a tribute to the “Bad Boys from Boston” – Aerosmith. Named after one of the band’s many hits, Stafford, CT’s ‘Big Ten Inch’ has been entertaining audiences for over 10 years. Playing such hits as “Toys in the Attic”, “Train Kept A-Rollin”, and “Dream On,” the band will bring the spirit of Boston right to Putnam. Big Ten Inch’s performance is sponsored by Putnam PRIDE, a coalition to create and foster a safe, drug free environment for the entire community.

Over in Union Square, Tuesday Saints will provide music throughout the evening. Based out of Chaplin, Tuesday Saints is an acoustic duo with singer/songwriter Jeff Burnham and vocalist/fiddler Nanette Addesso. The band’s music combines elements of folk and rock with a touch of alt country – the perfect soundtrack for an early summer evening.

First Fridays will also have several fun art-themed attractions on July 1st. Launched during the June First Fridays, the Kinetic Bike Project will continue to grow during the July event. The project combines art and engineering and was created by the First Fridays Stealthy Art Crew, a new addition to the festival for 2016. Throughout the season, the Crew will create temporary art displays connected to each city celebrated during the monthly events. Look for the Kinetic Bike at 114 Main Street.

A fixture of First Fridays for the past several seasons, the Community Art Table will have a fun activity for all ages to enjoy. Inspired by Boston’s Freedom Trail and the many trails that wind through New England’s oldest communities, July’s project will include a Letterboxing Trail through Putnam’s downtown with signs to major attractions. 

Perhaps the most exciting part of the July First Fridays will be a Boston-themed hunt for an elusive letter in the alphabet. With the “R” dropped from many words in the Boston dialect, the First Fridays committee has hidden over two dozen “R’s” throughout downtown Putnam. Patrons who successfully locate the letters and bring them to the Putnam Business Association table during the July event will have their names entered into a drawing for four premium tickets to Fenway Park for the Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays on July 10th – donated by Gerardi Insurance Services.