By Hailey Dixon for the Lincoln Sentinel
The Lincoln PRIDE Committee is introducing a new event this summer for families, individuals and anyone interested in having a fun time: First Fridays in the Park.
“Myself and Krista Biggs and Taylor Lebien have just been kinda looking for some ways to create some kind of family-friendly events in Lincoln,” said Beranda Pickering, PRIDE Committee member, “And working with the PRIDE Committee, we thought that creating [this event] … we could utilize our park a little bit better, [and that] would be a great way to do it.”
The events will take place June 1, July 6 and Aug. 3.
“Hopefully it turns into something we can do every year,” said Krista Biggs, another PRIDE Committee member.
Pickering took past experiences seeing similar events in cities such as Topeka, and decided to tailor it to the Lincoln City Park.
“We find it all very important to provide something for families to do locally, where they don’t have to go out of town, and they don’t have to spend money,” Pickering said, “So that’s another important thing to us, giving people something to do locally where they can enjoy what we have here, and they don’t have to spend money doing it.”
Donations are accepted, Pickering said. She also said local businesses and their donations are what helps put these events on this summer.
“We’ve just had an outpouring of support from businesses that are excited about the event and they are just overwhelmingly willing to help,” she said. “We’ve been so pleasantly surprised, so it’s important to give a shout out to the sponsors.”
A children’s’ entertainment segment will take place first at the event, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by a band performance from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
“Each event will feature a different band,” Pickering said.
The bands include Rice County Line, Kill Creek Rising and Dave Pickering (One Man Band).
In addition to the children’s entertainment and band festivities, food vendors will also be present at the park.
Heather Steen will be having gourmet cupcakes for children to decorate at the event as well.
Individuals are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on at the event, Pickering said.
Pickering and Biggs both said they hope individuals enjoy the events this summer.
“I just think it’ll be a fun evening to gather with friends and hang out with your family,” Biggs said. “I hope that they can have a fun, family evening.”
