Snow Hill Economic Development Coordinator Michael Day, right, discusses upcoming Fifth Friday events during a public meeting on Tuesday.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(March 15, 2018) Snow Hill Economic Development Coordinator Michael Day hopes to bring beer to the upcoming Fifth Friday Festivals, a new series of events starting later this month.

The Downtown Merchaants Association will run the events — on March 30, June 29 and Aug. 31 — but because that group is not officially a nonprofit, Day asked for permission from the Town Council to apply for one-day liquor permits for each date.

“Because they’re not a 501(c)(3), we would like to sell some beer at these things to try and get some income to pay for the events and not put it on the backs of everybody else,” he said during a council work session last Tuesday.

Because of new regulations, Day said organizers could buy cans as needed from a local convenience store, rather than having to go all-in and buy several kegs from a distributer.

He said sales would help offset the cost of signs and advertising. The events would include an area for children’s activities, separate from where beer would be sold, Day said.

“We’re actually, right now, the only town that we know of doing Fifth Fridays,” he said.

The councilmembers voted unanimously to support the application. Day will next seek permission from the county liquor board.

Fifth Fridays in March, June and August will include music, sidewalk sales and craft vendors, as well as a bounce house and face painting for children. Vendors are welcome and there is no charge for vendor space.

The three Fifth Friday Festivals will also feature corn hole tournaments at the old firehouse on 210 West Green Street with cash prizes for first, second and third-place finishers. The competition will be open to 32 two-person teams.

Teams will represent a Snow Hill business or organization for the right to keep a traveling trophy until the next Fifth Friday Festival tournament.

If there is enough interest, there will also be a junior singles competition for ages 10 and under. No monetary prizes will be awarded, but all participants will receive a prize or recognition.

Play will begin at 5 p.m., with check in at the old firehouse. The entry fee is $25 per team. There is no fee for the junior competition, but players must register.

Registration forms are available at Snow Hill businesses, on the Town of Snow Hill Facebook page, or through EventBrite by visiting www.eventbrite.com/e/snow-hill-5th-friday-corn-hole-tournament-tickets-43407532097.

A fourth Fifth Friday Festival, on Nov. 30, will feature arts and crafts vendors and have a holiday theme. Day did not seek a liquor license for that event.

For more information, contact Day at 410-632-2080. For information on the corn hole tournament, contact Diana Nolte at anglercpt@gmail.com.