MARIETTA – For Parkersburg native Chaz Thomas, the Marietta’s Merchants and Artists Walk was his first professional chance to showcase his circus talents to an audience five years ago.

On Friday evening, he returned to the streets of downtown Marietta.

“This event gave me my start,” Thomas said. “I had to come back.”

For the fourth time this year, a crowd of people showed up to walk the streets of downtown Marietta for the Merchants and Artists Walk, a chance for people to get outdoors and enjoy the entertainment and craftsmanship of local artists mingling between downtown businesses.

Held once monthly beginning in May, Friday evening’s walk coincided with the Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival also carrying on downtown.

“It’s been lovely down here so far, and the people are great to work with,” said Aleta Blackstone, a southeastern Ohio artist who specializes in custom murals and prints.

Blackstone is one of the area artists along Marietta’s downtown streets displaying their art.

“People ask for specific things they like to see, maybe they’ve just decorated their home and have something in mind, and I can paint whatever they ask,” Blackstone said. “People really like the Old-World inspired folk art; I do a lot of that for people.”

The walk typically attracts a variety of artists, independent merchants and crafters.

At the event, participating merchants, which typically top more than 30 each month from May through September, keep doors open from 6 to 9 each night while artists and musicians display their work between storefronts.

“It’s a nice way to get out of the house, especially with kids, because there are fun things here for them, too,” said Williamstown resident Susan Piatt. “We come to hear the good music, and of course there’s food. And it’s been nice out, too.”

Thomas is one of the many artists that appreciates the event to increase visibility.

“There’s a youth circus program in Washington State that my family sent me to for three summers,” Thomas said. “That’s how I got started.”

From fire juggling to plate spinning and an act called “rola bola,” which involves balancing on a small board that sits atop a cylinder on its side, Thomas performs for a variety of events. He was able to mentor and perform under the Amazing Sladek, billed as “America’s Oldest Daredevil Acrobat Handbalancer.”

“The art walk was my first professional gig five years ago,” he said. “After that, I was performing everywhere.”