October 3rd – Putnam’s Main Street will be crawling with Zombies!
September 26th 2014 – Putnam, CT – Prepare to have a ghoulishly good time during the final evening in the 2014 First Fridays season. Starting at 6pm, the October 3rd event will usher in the month of ghost stories, costumes, and trick-or-treaters, celebrating all things Folklore. In addition to art vendors, entertainment, and Art Attacks during the festival, the Putnam Business Association, in partnership with the First Fridays Committee, invites attendees to participate in a Zombie Fashion Show. Participants are encouraged to come dressed in their undead-best and be a part of the frightening festivities.
All season long, First Fridays has celebrated the different facets of cultural diversity. It is only fitting that the season culminates with a celebration and exploration of Folklore. Defined as the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through generations by word of mouth, Folklore is present today in the oral traditions of storytelling and singing, connecting a myriad of cultures and beliefs. From the reanimated corpses of Haitian Voodoo lore, to the stories of vampirism from Eastern Europe, October is the perfect time of year to celebrate the spookier elements of Folklore.
Entertainment for the October 3rd event will include performances by The Amazing Taylors. First up will be the Three Billy Goats Gruff puppet show, a family friendly show for all ages. After the sun goes down, The Amazing Taylors will then perform a Spooky Shadow Show, a performance that older kids and adults can enjoy. Haunted Carnival Games will also be available throughout the evening. And be sure to look out for Art Attacks popping up throughout Main Street.
Masks play an important role in many cultural traditions. Ranging from the elegant masquerade balls of Renaissance Italy, to the modern use of masks during Halloween, masks can be a whimsical and playful way of changing one’s identity. At the Community Arts table, attendees are invited to create and decorate their own mask. From animals to Day of the Dead skulls, each mask can be used to tell a story.
All First Fridays events feature live music, with a range of bands and musical acts that reflect a variety of styles and genres. Attendees of the October 3rd event are in store for a treat with a truly unique performance by the Extraordinary Rendition Band. Hailing from Providence, the Extraordinary Rendition Band is a collective street band of brass, reeds, and percussion. Blending the traditions of marching and roving bands, each performance by the ERB is a one of a kind. Throughout the evening, the band will move throughout Main Street, spreading infectious rhythms with each step they take. Do not miss this high-energy group of musicians as they take over downtown Putnam!
Music will not be the only infectious thing on Main Street during the October First Fridays. There is a zombie virus quickly spreading throughout the area, with the infected due to congregate on Main Street in Putnam on October 3rd, where they will drag their decaying bodies across a putrid runway for prizes. The top three best dressed will win in three categories: Best Undead Man, Best Undead Woman, and Best Undead Youth (14 and under). For those planning to walk the runway, join the “Zombie Fashion Show – Zombie Call!” event page on Facebook. Registration for the fashion show will be at 5:30 pm in the Montgomery Ward building on Main Street. Come out and show your zombie spirit and your costuming skills! For more information on the Zombie Fashion Show and the October 3rd First Fridays, visit www.discoverputnam.com.