2022 Schedule

 Help us Boost and “Fun-Up” the Wellington Economy!

January 7, 2022 – Winter is for the Birds
Enjoy beautiful bird photography by Dane Adams and visit participating stores to fill out your bird log to gain extra tickets towards a great prize.  Rob Swindell, with the Black River Audubon Society will also be available to answer questions.  

Click the link below to read more about our presenters.
Dane Adams Bio  
Rob Swindell Bio

POSTPONED due to weather to
February 18, 2022 Go For The Gold in the Wellington Olympics
​Sponsored By:  The Buckeye Trail Association
Celebrate the Winter Olympics by partaking in silly “Olympic” games and collecting your “rings” and “medals” to earn chances for a prize. 

March 4, 2022 – Have a Ball in Wellington
Sponsored By: The Duke Shop
There will be a variety of sports and game programs that use balls…. Pickleball, football, marbles, etc. Collect balls at participating stores to earn chances to win a prize. 
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April 1, 2022-  Autism Acceptance-  Stand Up and Stand Out
Sponsored By:  Colonial Barbershop
Puzzles,  Autism information, inclusive play, highlight famous people who on the spectrum, include Camp Ideas, Wellington Schools, Spectrum etc.  Collect puzzle pieces at participating businesses to earn more chances for prizes.

May 6, 2022- Buzzing By to Say Hi!
Sponsored By: Lorain County Beekeepers Association
Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Honey, Celebrate “Bee-ing” a Bee City.  Buzz into participating stores to collect a token for chances to win prizes. 

June 3, 2022– UneXplained Phenomena: Search for Bigfoot!
Sponsored By: Cherished Creations
Search out bigfoot hidden in participating stores and log where you found him/her to earn raffle tickets.  Speaker- 7:15 at the Gazebo or inside the Town Hall- Naturalist John Hickenbottom, shares stories from the trails near Cambridge, Ohio.

July 1, 2022- Wellington:  A Berry Sweet Community
Sponsored By: Mayor Hans Schneider and Wendy Underwood
Collect berries in your basket, recipes, and samples of berry delicious foods while earning tickets for a raffle prize.   

August 5, 2022- Summer is Floatin’ By!
Sponsored By: Valley Chevrolet
Float around collecting butterflies, clouds, and items that “float”.  Enjoy a root beer or orange and more. 

September 2, 2022- Backyard Game Night
Sponsored By: Kiley’s Tree & Bucket Truck Services, LLC.
Enjoy a variety of games throughout participating businesses- and in the square downtown weather permitting.  Like cornhole, hopscotch, and more. Pick up participation ribbons for chances to win prizes. 
Monday, September 5 is Labor Day

October 7, 2022 It’s Fall!  Fans or Flannel? 
Sponsored by Farm & Home Hardware
Have a variety of activities/crafts that involve fans or flannel- a play on opposites and the fall weather. Collect special tokens at participating stores for chances to win prizes.   
Sponsored By:

November 4, 2022  - Harvest Gratitude
Sponsored By:  New Life Wellington

We will have a variety of collections for toys, canned goods, Salvation Army, Angel Trees, etc.  Be grateful for what you have- and share that with others less fortunate.  Earn raffle tickets per item or dollar donated for chances to win prizes.

December 2, 2022 – Wrap It Up!
Sponsored By:
Dimitri's Corner Restaurant
There will be all sorts of holiday themes surprises.  Make gift tags, ornaments, etc. Collect trinkets to earn raffle tickets.

We encourage you to like the following pages for up to date notifications about F1rst Fr1days, photos, and more.
And on Facebook pages @firstfridayswellington  @mainstreetwellington

Congratulations to Prize Winners!
Large Owl Photo Collage by Dane Adams
Jackie & Tony Campomizzi 
F1rst Fr1day Prize
Eagle watercolor print, Dane Adams calendar, and 2 books
Amy Adams
Dane Adams 2022 Calendars
Alice Davis
Jean Jerousek
Mike Schneider
Connie Sutphin

What are F1rst Fr1days?

A special day per month where many businesses stay open longer to offer free or low cost entertainment, sales, promotions, and more to the community.  Many communities have found great success with First Friday Events.  The series increases foot traffic, which generates more customers, awareness, and dollars for businesses and provides a lot of fun for the community. 

Plus, participants will receive a passport, scavenger hunt, or a similar task and once they complete it by visiting each participating businesses.  They will get a chance to win a prize typically worth $50-$100.   

Everyone can also experience free activities, live music, and more coordinated by Main Street Wellington and partners.  The activities will either be in the Main Street office, a business, a vacant space downtown, an alleyway, or in the Town Hall/Square.  
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First Fridays aren’t just for retailers and restaurants.  Many service businesses like insurance agencies, chiropractors, hair salons, etc. enjoy success with First Fridays. How?  When you host an activity, contest, give-away etc. It enables you more time to interact with people [especially after hours.]  It is a great way to do outreach and have fun, which can grow your customer base.

Are you a Business That Wants to Get onto the Passport?

The following fees are to participate in the 2022 Series. 

• Main Street Wellington Business Members can participate at no extra cost.
• Non Main Street Members pay $20 per F1rst Fr1day.
• Or donate a $20 item for the raffle each month you participate

Each month you participate you will get the following:

• Listed on the monthly passport/flyer/scavenger hunt given to customers. 
• Listed in monthly advertising including flyers, social media, and newspapers if applicable.
• You can arrange a video, and additional social media posts during or after the event with photos etc.

BUT-  You do need to have a brick and mortar business in Wellington to be on the passport.  If you are an at home business, or located outside of Wellington, we encourage you to sponsor a month, or partner with another local business location to participate.

Do you have CREATIVE, FUN ideas?

Join the F1rst Fr1day Facebook Planning Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/350427099442863/media
Ideally, we like to meet...but a lot can be planned via groups and Zooms etc.  Check it out by clicking the link above.  

Interested in Sponsoring?

​If you don’t want to stay open late, but would still like to be involved.  We also need sponsors for each First Friday.  This amount will cover at least one free activity for people to enjoy for example, a craft, snack, live music, etc.  Call soon to sponsor your preferred month - packages start at $150. 
Plus, if you sponsor a month, you do not have to pay to participate in the series. 

Sponsors Receive:

• Recognition with Name/logo in all that month’s F1rst Fr1day promotions on Main Street Wellington Facebook, F1rst Fr1days Facebook, and other community boards.
• Recognized at Wellington Village Council, and on fliers/posters.
  **Occasionally there are also newspaper press releases/radio spots.
• Name/Logo is on the F1rst Fr1day calendar on the MSW website. 
• Opportunity to have either: a recorded video or a live social media feed promoting their business/organization.  The video is tailored to the sponsor. 
• The monthly activity/craft can also be tailored to the sponsor’s preference and/or business/hobby etc.  

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For More  information call 440-647-3987  or email Jenny   jarntz@mainstreetwellington.com