First Friday back with May event

A full slate of music, a headless woman, race cars and a galaxay far, far away will somehow fit together for First Friday in downtown Greencastle on Friday, May 4.

Sponsored by REMAX Cornerstone, the May edition of First Friday promises the usual mix of music, food and merriment along with a few elements unique to May.

The north side courthouse stage will feature DJ Big Daddy A beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Putnam County Youth Choir at 6:30.

The Lance Gordon Band will be the final act on the courthouse stage, beginning at 7 p.m.

On South Indiana Street, ZooSoul Drum Circle, sponsored by The Castle, will kick things off at 5 p.m.

The remainder of the night on the South Indiana Street Stage, sponsored by Cricket’s and Scoops Ice Cream, will feature Jack Gibson at 6 p.m., followed by Phillip Steven and the Open Road at 8 p.m.

Forest Gras Band will play the Wasser Brewing Co. stage at 7 p.m.

First Friday staple War Radio will play its usual gig at the Swizzle Stick from 9 p.m.-midnight.

Besides the music, First Friday will offer the chance to get up close with several different race cars featured regularly at Putnamville’s Lincoln Park Speedway.

From the superstock division, Chris Harcourt will have his car No. 23H on display, while Austin Phelps will be in attendances with his 81P.

Modified drivers Josh Boller (in the 05B) and Justin Cundiff (in the 27C) will also have their cars on display.

From the bomber class, Joe Cash will have his 55C on display.

May is also National Historic Preservation Month and to mark the occasion, the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County is taking part in First Friday.

The Pearl Bryan murder was one of the most sensational crimes of the gilded age and the roots are here in Greencastle. County Historian Larry Tippin will recount details from his extensive research for his forthcoming book on the 1896 scandal.

Bryan’s headless body was found near Fort Thomas, Ky. Her head was never recovered.

Her body was buried in the family plot at Greencastle’s Forest Hill Cemetery, where visitors still place pennies heads up on her gravestone.

At a booth on the southeast side of Courthouse Square, photos and period effects (some of which are being provided by the Bryan family) will be displayed, painting a backdrop for the drama.

At 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., Tippin will give a brief outline of the story, and then point out pivotal locations in the immediate neighborhood relating to Bryan’s tale on a short walk.

Learn what made a local shoe store, millinery shop and dentist’s office vital parts of the crime of the century.

Find out the businesses once housed at the locations of Scoops and Moore’s Bar (both of which will have Pearl Bryan-themed specials) that also played a role in the story, and more. 

In celebration of May the Fourth Be with You, the Putnam County Public Library will have Star Wars-themed activites from 5-7 p.m. These will include character in costumes, Star Wars-related activities, crafts and food and even a virtual reality simulated fighter pilot experience. 

Of course, food will also be a part of the First Friday experience, with specials at Almost Home/Swizzle Stick, Bridges Craft Pizza and Wine Bar, Completely Nuts and Candy, Moores, Myers’ 5 East, Tap House 24 and Wasser, as well as booths by the Fluttering Duck, Putnam Inn and Hatchet House Barbecue.

Other participants in the May First Friday event include Greenlight Art, Castlemakers, Shuee Furuniture & Mattress, Conspire: Contemporary Craft, Nuskin by Brittany Overshiner, Dot Dot Smile by Jess Faust and free trees from the Putnam County Family Nature Group.

Finally, Friday will be a special day for the longest-running vendor at First Friday, Bear Threads. The business, owned by Kristin Tiepin, now has a permanent location on Franklin Street on the north side of the courthouse.