GOSHEN — Downtown Goshen will be a busy place this weekend with the convergence of the Goshen Arts Tour and Diversity Day for November’s First Fridays.

The events will come together Friday, demonstrating the influence of the arts and creativity in the community.

The self-guided Goshen Arts Tour kicks off at 5 p.m. and will feature works at local studios and galleries. The tour will run through 9 p.m.

In case you can’t make Friday night’s tour, it will resume Saturday at 10 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. The tours are free and open to all ages.

The grand opening of The Gallery at the Millrace will coincide with the weekend’s activities. Art enthusiasts and First Fridays participants are invited to visit the gallery located at 212 W. Washington St. that brings together 10 local artists. Everything from jewelry and woodworking to painting and photography will be on display for the gallery’s opening weekend.

The Gallery at the Millrace will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Goshen Theater will be the host for Diversity Day performers who will entertain with music, dance and traditions from the United States and around the world.

Dancing from Vietnam, India, Russia and the Middle East will be featured, as well as Ecuadoran and Colombian singing, bagpiper Richard Mao and the Shalom Bell Ringers.

Performances will begin at 5 p.m. and run until 9 p.m.

Goshen City Church of the Brethren will also provide a show of dancers, as the Lee Anne Stewart School of Dance will perform at the church at 6:30 p.m.

Thirty-three students from second through 12th grade will perform jazz, tap and ballet dances while those in attendance enjoy snacks.

The Goshen Powerhouse will be another site featuring performance art.

Local band Love Truck will play a concert at the Powerhouse from 6 to 8 p.m., celebrating new environmentally-friendly public parking and a walking and biking path.

The arts theme will weave throughout other First Friday events as well.

Hand-crafted wines and cheeses will be offered at many downtown businesses along the Art Tour, both Friday and Saturday.

Kids can join in the arts fun with storytelling at Better World Books and art classes at Studio 55.

For more information on this weekend’s events visit the First Fridays website at cityonthego.org/first_fridays or their Facebook page.





Friday, Nov. 2

9 a.m. - 9 p.m.: The Gallery at the Millrace grand opening, 212 W. Washington St.

5 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Goshen Arts Tour, downtown

5 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Diversity Day performances, Goshen Theater

5 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Art of Wellness flu shot clinics, Menno Travel, 210 S. Main St.

5 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Art of Childhood art classes, Studio 55

5 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Art of Childhood storytelling, Better World Books, 118 E. Washington St.

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.: Love Truck performance, Goshen Powerhouse

6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Lee Anne Stewart Dance School performance, Goshen City Church of the Brethren, 203 N. 5th St.



Saturday, Nov. 3

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.: The Gallery at the Mill Race, 212 W. Washington St.

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Goshen Arts Tour, downtown