First 1st

Fridays is

May 5

PUTNAM — “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....” So begins the most famous Science Fiction film of all time: Star Wars. This opening line is fitting to begin the seventh season of First Fridays events. For 2017, First Fridays will celebrate the craft of film making with the season long theme – First Fridays Feature Films: A Celebration of Cinema. On May 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., the streets of downtown Putnam will once again be filled with vendors, performers and thousands of visitors. The public is invited to come and join the festivities, enjoying a spring evening in the arts & culture hub of northeastern Connecticut. Spanning six evenings from May through October, each event will bring something new to see, taste, and experience.

May’s event is aptly subtitled, Revenge of the Fifth and the evening will see a celebration of the Science Fiction & Fantasy genre of film. Visitors to the festival are encouraged to come to the event dressed as their favorite Sci Fi or Fantasy characters, with plenty of photo opportunities available throughout the evening.

In addition to the fun theme, First Fridays will feature more than three dozen art vendors on Main Street and Union Square in Putnam. Live music continues as a festive feature of the event. On Main Street, Juicebox, a six-piece party band from northeastern Connecticut, will cover all the best music from classic rock to current hits. In Union Square, That Dollar’s Gone will perform a variety of ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s classic and contemporary acoustic rock and folk music.

May 5th will also feature a variety of gallery events open to the public. Arts & Framing & The Sochor Gallery will host multi-medium artist, Tim Oliver from 5 to 8 p.m. The Complex Performing & Creative Arts Centre will perform a Maypole Dance at 6 on the lawn of the Congregational Church of Putnam to kick off the May event. The Complex Dance Theatre will also perform throughout the night on their STAGE located at 135 Main Street. Also at 135 Main Street, Artique will feature small canvas paintings for artists of all ages to create their own works of art. Keeping with the theme of the event, The Flying Carpet Studio will host a Dr. Who Tardis photo opportunity. 

Art remains the focus of First Fridays and during each evening of the 2017 season, local artists have been invited to create live art during the event. For May, Pomfret based temporary environmental artist Randy Markes will create an installation of Cairns. Markes will erect natural stones into gravity defying sculptures. Families attending the festival will be delighted with the Community Arts table, which will feature “Junk Bots” – inviting children of all ages to create their own robot out of foil, nuts, bolts, and more!