Want to take part in First Friday but don’t know what activity to offer?

Each month, the Greater Kokomo Downtown Association encourages participants to join in on the theme to make First Friday even more fun — though it’s not required! Whether you go all out or keep it simple, the goal is to create a great experience for attendees.

We did some brainstorming to help get your creative juices flowing! To help, we’ve put together a mix of low-barrier (quick and easy) and high-barrier (more involved) ideas.

We’re here to help! If you have questions or need assistance, contact Casie Braden with the Greater Kokomo Alliance via email here or call 765-457-5301.

MORE INVOLVED ACTIVITIES

Host a Plant Giveaway: Give away small potted plants, herb starters, or tree saplings to customers.

Recycling Drop-Off or Upcycling Demo: Set up a station where people can drop off recyclables or watch a demo on repurposing everyday items.

Eco-Friendly Product Showcase: Feature and promote sustainable or locally sourced products in your store.

DIY Reusable Bag Decorating: Provide cloth tote bags and markers/paint for a hands-on, eco-friendly craft.

QUICK & EASY ACTIVITIES

Go Green Discounts: Offer a discount for customers who bring their own reusable cups, bags, or containers.

Green-Themed Window Display: Decorate with plants, earthy colors, and signs promoting sustainability.

Nature-Inspired Playlist: Play music with nature themes in your space (think rainforest sounds, folk songs, or classics like “Big Yellow Taxi”).

Social Media Challenge: Encourage customers to post how they “go green” and tag your business for a chance to win a prize.

MORE INVOLVED ACTIVITIES

DIY Greeting Cards: Set up a station with blank cards, markers, stickers, and other decorative items.

Nature Prints: Set up a station for people to stamp leaves, flowers, and other natural items onto your material of choice to create unique designs.

Rock Painting: Provide smooth rocks, paint, and brushes for people to paint inspirational messages or creative patterns.

Tie-Dye: Set up a tie-dye station with white t-shirts, fabric dye, and rubber bands.

Sand Art: Provide colored sand and clear bottles or jars for layering the sand to create beautiful patterns.

Collage Art: Provide magazine or newspaper clippings, stickers, glue, and paper for guests to create their own unique collages.

QUICK & EASY ACTIVITIES

Calligraphy: Provide pens and paper to teach people how to write in calligraphy and other creative handwriting styles.

Origami Creations: Have a variety of origami paper and instructions for different shapes.

Music to Drawing: Play a variety of music in your space and invite people to draw their interpretation of the songs and feelings towards it.

Sidewalk Chalk Art: Invite customers to create chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of your business.

Photography Contest: Encourage customers to snap creative pictures of downtown art, architecture, landscaping, etc. and tag your business for a chance to win a prize.

Artsy Photo Booth: Set up a photo booth with an artsy backdrop and props for guests to snap creative selfies.

MORE INVOLVED ACTIVITIES

“Gym Class”: Host fitness challenge stations or games such as basketball to promote physical activity and healthy habits.

“Career Day”: Invite local professionals from various fields to highlight their careers and offer hands-on experiences.

Language Learning: Invite a local language expert to help guests learn a new language such as Spanish, Korean, Sign Language, etc.

Art Classes: Bring in local artists to teach guests how to paint, draw, or sculpt a masterpiece.

Music Classes: Bring in local musicians to teach guests how to sing or play a simple instrument.

Financial Literacy: Invite local experts to teach guests about budgeting, saving, and managing money.

QUICK & EASY ACTIVITIES

Memory Game: Test or strengthen people’s memories with a simple activity such as object-recall or photo matching.

Trivia: Organize a trivia quiz with questions on various topics such as history, science, pop culture, and more.

History Timeline: Set up a station with historical photos and a timeline to encourage guests to place an event in its proper place in time.

School Spirit Discount: Offer discounts to customers who wear their school-branded apparel.

School Spirit Displays: Decorate your business or booth with school-related decorations.

Photo Booths: Create a back-to-school photo booth for people to snap yearbook-worthy photos.

MORE INVOLVED ACTIVITIES

Live Art Demonstrations: Host a local artist and invite customers to watch him/her create a masterpiece right before their eyes.

Interactive Art Installations: Collaborate with a local artist to create either a walk-through display or a community painting.

Art Workshop: Host a mini art class guided by a local artist or staff member.

Live Music: Host a local musician or band to add some unique sounds to your space.

QUICK & EASY ACTIVITIES

Clues for the “Art Mystery Scavenger Hunt”: Submit a photo of art, architecture, or design within your space to be a clue for the “Art Mystery Scavenger Hunt.”

“Looking Artsy” Discounts: Offer a discount for customers who wear apparel with famous artworks or lots of color.

Creative Window Display: Decorate your windows with colorful decorations or art from local artists.

Art-Themed Giveaways: Offer art-themed promotional items such as custom-designed tote bags, notebooks, or pens.

MORE INVOLVED ACTIVITIES

Pumpkin Painting: Invite people to paint their own mini pumpkin.

Mask Decorating: Host a mask making station for guests to create their own spooky mask.

Spooky Storytelling: Set up a cozy area with hay bales and blankets where a storyteller can share spooky tales.

Pumpkin Bowling: Use small pumpkins as bowling balls and set up pins decorated as ghosts or monsters.

QUICK & EASY ACTIVITIES

Treat Distribution: Hand out candy or other treats to trick-or-treaters of all ages.

Costume Discounts: Offer discounts to customers who wear a Halloween costume. You can also promote Halloween-themed food, drinks, or products!

Halloween window decorating: Decorate your windows or storefronts with themed decor.

Spooky Playlist: Play spooky ambience or Halloween-themed music in your space (think of songs like “Thriller” and “This Is Halloween”).

MORE INVOLVED ACTIVITIES

Live Music: Host a local musician or band to entertain customers while they shop or to entice visitors to your business.

Food Tasting Stations: Set up booths with samples from local restaurants, bakeries, and food artisans to give visitors a taste of what the community has to offer.

Shopping Bag Decorating: Host a shopping bag making station that people can decorate and use while they shop.

QUICK & EASY ACTIVITIES

Featured Product: Unveil a new or unique product or service at your business to intrigue customers.

Gift Card/Certificate Drawing: Invite customers to enter their name into a drawing to win a gift card/certificate to a local business.

Social Media Challenge: Encourage customers to snap a selfie in front of your business or booth and tag you for their chance to win a prize.

MORE INVOLVED ACTIVITIES

Sweater Decorating: Host an ugly sweater customization station, where visitors can bring a plain sweater to embellish.

Holiday Bingo: Create bingo cards with holiday-themed items or activities.

Holiday Crafts: Set up a craft table with supplies for making ornaments, gift tags, holiday cards, or other festive decorations.

Character Meet-and-Greet: Host a station where guests can visit a beloved holiday character such as Santa Claus, The Grinch, Buddy the Elf, etc.

QUICK & EASY ACTIVITIES

Holiday Karaoke: Invite people to sing their favorite holiday tunes and winter songs.

Ugly Sweater Discounts: Offer discounts to customers who wear an ugly sweater. You can also promote holiday-themed food, drinks, or products!

Ugly Sweater Contest: Have staff members or representatives dress in their favorite sweater and have visitors vote for their favorite.

Secret Santa Drawing: Encourage guests to enter their name for a mystery gift drawing.

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