By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Firefly Nights provided just the spark that downtown Bowling Green needed.
After the unrelenting spring rains, and more than a year of torn up streets, a Friday night strolling downtown in 70 degree weather seemed just what residents needed.
“It’s a nice night,” said Kevan Joseph, of Bowling Green. “It quit raining!”
His wife, April Joseph, said they’d not been to one of the Firefly fests before. “We just wanted to check it out.”
Their assessment: “We had a great time,” he said.
“It’s a good thing for the community,” she added. The festival provides a way to get out and socialize.
Floyd Craft, as he was locking up Ben’s, said he was surprised by the number of people who came down given the rough shape the streets are in.
Downtown is in its second year of torn up streets as gas lines and water lines are being repaired.
Craft said he was pleased with how well construction crews, which were working well into Friday afternoon, were able to clean up the streets in time for the festival. “Shows what they could do if they wanted.”
Adelyn Davis said her whole family had come out. Her two older children were enjoying the obstacle course set up.
The weather has been so bad, she said, that the family had just gotten their passes for the city pool.
“It’s a great night,” said Golden Carmen, who also was there with her children. “Finally it’s not raining.”
When it’s raining, “there’s few places you can go,” she said. “The library’s always packed.”
Now she can get out and the kids can expend some of their energy.
Carmen was looking forward to hanging around at the end of the night to see a friend perform with the closing act Corduroy Road.
The biggest change for the festival, launched by a group of downtown business women last summer, was the consolidation of the music and beer garden into one covered space near the intersection of North Main and Court Street. Four bands were booked with Drew Joseph opening, followed by Vester Frey, The Barn Cats, and then Corduroy Road.
In introducing The Barn Cats, Michelle Elson, who handles the booking for the event, said she wanted to put the emphasis on top flight local acts.
Joe Brough, of Bowling Green, said he came down to all four Firefly festivals last year, especially for the music. This year, though he had his grandchildren in tow, so he was seeing more of the kids activities. His granddaughter really liked the obstacle course.
Brough had his grandson in his arms as he strolled through Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Retro.
Like many of the shops along Main Street, Rock‘Em Sock‘Em had plenty of folks inside.
“We look forward to this every month,” Kayla Minniear, the shop’s owner, said. The shop has a lot of college students as customers, so Firefly Nights provides a boost during the slow period.
“We get a lot of families in,” Minniear said. All week there was construction going on outside the shop’s door. “Construction out front doesn’t help new people find us,” Minniear said. “These festivals help.”
Jonathan Smith was also seeing an uptick in foot traffic even though the new location of his shop Cameron’s Comics was on Court Street just outside the festival.
He said the new shop at 119 E. Court has ample window display space, so he can show off the merchandise, and that lures customers.
Erica Grossman was one of the craft vendors set up on Main Street. She set up her Blanquility booth at all four festivals last year. She’s done well here, even though the weather was iffy for all four. “I love the atmosphere of these festivals.”
The crowd on Friday, she said, was “great.”
Six-year-old Natalie Staneart was enjoying her time in the booth, modeling a yellow scarf, and finding interesting ways to wear it.
Grossman said she should hire her to model.
Natalie’s mother Angel Staneart said: “We were going to just sit down and watch TV, and decided to come here.”
A couple volunteers working the children’s activities were also enjoying themselves. “It’s really fun interacting with the kids,” Jordan Nichols said as she stood by the obstacle course.
The teen said she was recruited as a volunteer by her friend Ellie Boyle, who was also working the obstacle course.
Boyle attended Firefly fests last summer, and Gayle Walterbach, owner of Coyote Beads, encouraged her to volunteer. Boyle said it was rewarding to contribute to an experience so many others enjoyed.
“I like helping the kids learn how to do the course, and seeing their faces when they do it.”
Aurora Sedlar, a BGSU student, and her friend Jenny Jacops were out enjoying the festival together.
The nice weather is “blessing,” Jacops said.
They were drawn by the variety of activities, especially the various food options. The festival has increased the number of food trucks, downtown Qdoba and Kabob-It had stalls on the street, and sit down places were open for business.
“Everyone seems to be having a great time,” Jacops said.
Sedlar said it was fun just seeing all the people. Many people think nothing is happening because the students are gone, she said. “It’s nice to see there’s life in Bowling Green even in the summer.”
