DOVER — In the eyes of many, Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer — kids are back in school and sunset arrives sooner every evening.
But the Downtown Dover Partnership hopes people are ready for one more summer blast at its monthly First Friday celebration.
“We’re having an end of the summer beach party,” said event coordinator Amy Mullen. “We’ve been doing this since April, as the turnout as increased every month this year.
“We’re looking forward to a couple hundred people coming out. I’m looking forward to it.”
There will be free activities for children with a moon bounce, limbo, beach games, volleyball and beach balls. Harvest Ridge Winery and Fordham Brewing will be there as well.
The action will be in the area of Governors Avenue and West Loockerman and State streets in Dover from 5 to 8 p.m.
Downtown merchants will be open late with sales and specials planned.
Suds Bar Soap and Essentials on 31 W. Loockerman St. will let people get a glimpse of some of their new products during the event.
Dinos & Darlings on 9 W. Loockerman will have a sidewalk sale with its first markdown on Toms.
“It’s exciting,” said Faylese Cuffee, associate at Dinos & Darlings. “It’s been pretty slow in downtown Dover since school has started. Hopefully with the event everyone will come out and celebrate one last time.”
The downtown merchants also are supporting Kay’s Kamp with First Friday Gives Back.
Kay’s Kamp is a weeklong, overnight medically supervised camp for kids diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 5 and 17.
All children attending the camp are battling cancer or the disease is in remission.
“It’s for a great cause,” Ms. Mullen said. “It’s something fun for them to do to get their mind off of everything that they’re going through.”
First Friday will continue through October, but Ms. Mullen said she hopes it continues to get better each month.
“It’s the end of the summer,” Ms. Mullen said. “That’s why this one may seem a little different, but we hope all our events have a great turnout.
“You don’t have to worry about anything when your kids come out here. It’s great for the community. The merchants love it every year, as I don’t know anyone who has ever been disappointed with the event.”