Leonardtown hosts Red White and Blues Jam on the Square

LEONARDTOWN, MD — Local musicians and businesses came together at downtown Leonardtown square to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday weekend at the First Friday event on July 1.

The Leonardtown Business Association hosted the July First Friday event, with the theme Bob Schaller and Friends’ Red White and Blues Jam on the Square.

The band encouraged event goers to sing and dance as they performed classic rocks hits such as  Johnny Cash’s ‘Folsom Prison Blues,’ and more.

When people were not sitting in camping chairs or lounging on blankets listening to the music, they were shopping and supporting local businesses in the downtown area.

“The town square was decked out with patriotic colors. The First Friday event also hosted gallery openings, a kick-off of our summer savings sales event and other special events to add to the fun throughout the town,” said Ellen Lewis, chairman of the First Friday committee.

With the potential for thunderstorms looming, Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris was concerned that the weather would affect the attendance rate of the event for the third month in a row.

“With the thunderstorm warning, I wasn’t sure people would come out, but the weather had held out for this one,” said Burris.

First Fridays are the kind of events that help Leonardtown grow into a unique tourist destination, said Lewis in June. 

“Event themes vary from the local arts and music scene, or more focused on the place to be for family fun or date nights. There’s nowhere else like Leonardtown in the Southern Maryland area,” said Lewis.

The Leonardtown Business Association already has the next few months’ worth of First Friday events in the works, such as a bra painting contest in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said Lewis.

Featured businesses for this month’s First Friday include: Opal Gallery Fine Arts and Gifts; Crazy for Ewe Yarns; Fenwick Street Used Books and Music; Caught My Eye; and North End Gallery.

For more information, check out the event website and Facebook page.

Contact Jacqui Atkielski at j.atkielski@thebaynet.com.