School just got out and already the kids are getting on your nerves? Head to Downtown Statesboro for First Friday Downtown and have some family fun. Downtown Statesboro will begin to buzz at 5:30 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m. as visitors tour art galleries, enjoy outdoor music, sidewalk art exhibits, great food, and  shop in the stores which remain open a little later on First Friday.

At the Averitt Center for the Arts, start off with a visit to the Youth Gallery to see what the Charter Conservatory and Home School Associations have put together for a student art exhibit.

Then head downstairs to see what’s on exhibit in legends gallery on the second floor. Finally, stop off in the main gallery to enjoy the new exhibit by Willie Hendrix, an accomplished local artist and inventor. Hendrix will be present to share his personal insights.

Elsewhere in downtown, shoppers will want to investigate the new location and grand opening of Yard & Haus (That’s the German word for house, pronounced the same way) and see all the new indoor and outdoor accessories available to decorate your home or give as gifts.

You’ll also want to catch the new Low Country Auction located behind City Hall where you’ll find wonderful antiques and collectibles.

In addition to the usual array of artists and musicians outside, First Friday and Saturday in June will also feature a two-day sidewalk sale by participating downtown retailers.  

Why not take the kids in to Free Spirit Pottery and paint your own original pottery design. There’s more than just pottery with Ann Walsh. She can introduce you to hot glass fusing and some fabulous jewelry designs.

If you began on East Main, head on down to West Main Art Gallery & Studios to see the unique works of regional artists who work in a variety of mediums. Selected fine antiques are also available for purchase.

Conclude the evening with a fresh made-from-scratch hand tossed pizza at Sugar Magnolia  Bakery. Enjoy a Cajun feast and music at the French Quarter, fresh seafood at Hugo’s, or  perhaps you’re in the mood for a tad more elegant fare at Blue Moon Café, Statesboro Brews, or Chops. Whatever you prefer, there’s something for the whole family.

But don’t stay out too late because Saturday morning, bright and early, you’ll want to head back to downtown Statesboro to catch the new Main Street Market where the first and third Saturday of each month local farmers bring in fresh fruits, vegetables and other goods.

“Please come out and support this new and growing farmers’ market and you will be surprised what local farmers will soon be offering,” said Heath Seymour, Main Street director. “There will also be arts, crafts and music as we begin to add to the event in coming months.”

The farmers market is located in Sea Island parking lot. Local is the major theme here. It’s more than Georgia made and Georgia grown, it’s made and grown right here in Bulloch and the surrounding counties.

“The most important thing is that locals need to learn what it means to buy local,” explains local farmer Jimmy Hayes. “You eat green boiled peanuts later in the summer. I have some fresh corn just coming in now, but only because I stuck my neck out and planted early. The frost got the first planting.”

Not sure if it’s organic? Just ask. Many of the farmers are already certified organic and others are working toward certification.