WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — First Thursdays officially return Thursday May 4th. First Thursdays are held the first Thursday of each month from May through September. From 4-8pm there will be live local music, live art creations, and other themed activities put on by local businesses.
Assistant Director of the Wausau River District, Blake Opal-Wahoske, says First Thursdays have a great impact on the local economy.
“When you shop downtown, 3 times the amount stays in our local economy verses the big box retailers. That’s an estimated $130,000 economic impact over the course of the season,” said Opal-Wahoske.
Each First Thursday will have a different decade theme night. May’s decade is the 1960’s. Opal-Wahoske says the flashback will be complete with songs being preformed from the ’60’s.
“Oh, it’s going to be like Throwback Thursday, a blast from the past,” he said. “So, you’re going to get all that vintage vibe from downtown. Holly Ann Music, a downtown business, her students are going to be down on the corner of Jefferson and Third Street and they’re dressing up in their costumes and singing 1960’s songs.”
Future theme nights include “School’s Out for Summer” for the 1970’s in June, “Heating Things Up with Neon” for the 1990’s in July, and “Take Me to the Ball” for the 1950’s for August.
