Get fired up! Canton First Friday to feature flaming fun, food trucks, eclipse art shows

Ed Balint, Canton Repository
Updated ·3 min read
Circle City Fire will be putting on fire art performances on April 5 in downtown Canton during First Friday festivities.
Circle City Fire will be putting on fire art performances on April 5 in downtown Canton during First Friday festivities.

CANTON − Downtown Canton will get fired up for April First Friday festivities.

Circle City Fire, an Indianapolis-based group of artists specializing in fire manipulation, will perform at 6:30 p.m. on Fourth Street NW and 7:45 p.m. at Centennial Plaza.

"Fire Up Downtown" First Friday activities will run 5 to 9 p.m. April 5. Food trucks, including The Flaming Marshmallow and Uncle Bacon's BBQ will be available in the area surrounding Centennial Plaza, 330 Court Ave. NW.

Other entertainment will be roving stilt walkers and LED jugglers.

Local artist Drew Dudek will have a solo exhibition 5 to 10 p.m. at The Hub Art Factory in downtown Canton during April First Friday.
Local artist Drew Dudek will have a solo exhibition 5 to 10 p.m. at The Hub Art Factory in downtown Canton during April First Friday.

Eclipse-inspired art BZTAT Studios, The CUT Cinema, Patina hosting events in Canton

Fire hose demonstration, sunglass modeling, eclipse cocktails

Other activities and events include:

  • 5-8 p.m., the Canton Fire Department will put on hose demonstrations in the parking lot of the Eric Snow YMCA, 420 Third St. NW. Contests and games also will be featured.

  • 5:30-6:30 p.m., Malone Jazz Ensemble Performance on Fourth Street NW.

  • BZTAT Studios will present the exhibition, "Celestial − Exploring Cosmic Curiosities in Art." Eclipse-themed artwork will be featured in BZTAT's gallery at the Canton Creator Space, 730 Market Ave. S.

First Friday festivities on April 5 in downtown Canton will include fire artistry provided by Circle City Fire of Indianapolis.
First Friday festivities on April 5 in downtown Canton will include fire artistry provided by Circle City Fire of Indianapolis.

  • Patina Arts Centre, 324 Cleveland Ave. NW, will present the eclipse-inspired exhibition, "Umbra: a Collective Experience" from 5 to 10 p.m. More than a dozen artists will be displaying works; the exhibition will be on display through April 27 during gallery hours of noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday. "From mesmerizing paintings to intricate sculptures, Umbra promises to ignite your imagination and spark conversations that transcend the boundaries of art and science," Patina said in a news release.

  • The Hub Art Factory, 336 Sixth St. NW, will feature the artwork of Drew Dudek in a range of styles. Curated by Dan Kane, the solo show is 5-10 p.m. Dudek is known for his unique style of portraiture paintings. Subjects include celebrities and pop culture imagery.

  • From 6-9 p.m., Strauss Studios, 236 Walnut Ave. NE, will host the closing reception for an exhibition remembering late local artist Diane Belfiglio. She was a Walsh University art professor and award-winning artist whose photo realism acrylic paintings were featured in numerous galleries and museums. Live music will be performed.

The artwork of Drew Dudek will be featured at his solo show 5-10 p.m. on April 5 at The Hub Art Factory in downtown Canton during First Friday.
The artwork of Drew Dudek will be featured at his solo show 5-10 p.m. on April 5 at The Hub Art Factory in downtown Canton during First Friday.

  • Photographer David Dingwell will present "Shades-Open Studio" from 5:30-9 p.m. at Patina Arts Centre. In conjunction with Patina's "Umbra" exhibit celebrating the solar eclipse, he will be photographing people modeling their favorite pair of sunglasses. High-resolution photos will be given to those who donate $5 per person. Photos of participants will be posted on West End Imagery for open voting roughly one week after the event. Two winners will receive Rag & Bone sunglasses donated by Canton South Eyecare.

  • Canton Comedy Boom will present a free comedy show 8-9:30 p.m. during First Friday in the downstairs event space at Patina Arts Centre. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Deli Ohio, the show will feature local comedians and special guests. DORA beverages are permitted.

April's theme for Canton First Friday will be "Fire Up Downtown," featuring fire artistry performances.
April's theme for Canton First Friday will be "Fire Up Downtown," featuring fire artistry performances.

  • Grapes in a Glass, 575 Market Ave. N, will have live music 7 to 11 p.m. by Craig Veltri. Drink specials are a Flaming Dragon and Honey and Smoke Mezcal.

  • Bender's Tavern, 137 Court Ave. SW, will serve eclipse-themed drinks: the Total Eclipse, the Whiskey Blackout and the Sunbeam.

  • Starting at 6 p.m., George's Lounge, 229 Cleveland Ave. NW, will feature live music by Jackson Windsor and Larry Elefante. Special on the menu is the Hall of Flame burger, which features jalapeno slaw, habanero bacon, sriracha pepper jack, and a fried green pepper ring on a toasted pretzel bun.

Reach Ed at (330)580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: First Friday in downtown Canton to feature fire art and food trucks