Logan Reeder learns how to play the dulcimer during Fun Fridays at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — The Arts Collaborative of the Mid-Ohio Valley returns with Fun Fridays at Bicentennial Park in Downtown Parkersburg.

A garden party theme encompassed the most recent event on June 9 with varying stations promoting art and community in the downtown area.

Participants were able to make seed balls out of old newspapers and seeds of their choice, carve soap into fish, make cards to take home as well as several other activities sponsored by local organizations including Artsbridge, the Parkersburg Art Center, live music and more. Additionally, The Arts Collaborative of the Mid-Ohio Valley provided free Kona Ice to the first 100 attendees.

Lindsay Dennis, Executive Director for Artsbridge, said she enjoys participating in the events because she loves seeing kids engaging with the arts while having a good time. Dennis and her team followed the garden theme by using hand tracings to create carrots and worms out of construction paper for a kids’ craft.

“Fun Fridays follows our mission — igniting the arts in the Mid-Ohio Valley. It gets us out in our community and meets people where they are. Today we have fun carrots growing up out of the soil and happy worms for the kids to take home,” Dennis said. “The Downtown Arts Collaborative brings a really good source of information of the artistic aspects that are in this area that people don’t necessarily know about all individually. So, when they bring them all together, people get a full scope of what there is to do and experience here.”

Luke Reeder visits the Kona Ice truck during Fun Fridays at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg. (Photo Provided)

Fun Fridays initially began to highlight and showcase all the activities that happen on the street and all the arts and cultural organizations that the Mid-Ohio Valley has. Happening right after COVID, it was just a way for people to be together, but still be outside while showcasing the facility and vendors in the downtown community, she said.

“I love seeing all the children come in and having a great time. There’s obvious importance between connecting kids and community. I grew up in Parkersburg and so many people my age say, ‘oh, I remember when I used to walk the streets with my parents or with my grandparents – I remember when I shopped here or I remember when I did that,'” said West Virginia University at Parkersburg Dean of Civic Engagement and Innovation Senta Goudy, “So, the Arts Collaborative has really been working toward creating that same kind of sentiment in today’s youth.”

One of their major projects was The Good Space Mural on the Parkersburg Art Center and they had over 500 people engaged with that project — many of whom were children.

“It’s really great because there are so many families around here, but there are a lot of things that cost money like going to the pool. When you have a family of multiple children that adds up really quickly. So, to have these events where kids can come, play and hang out for free — and it’s not stressful for the parents — it’s really important,” said Bethany Wilson, Parkersburg resident and homeschool mom.

Community building between all generations is important for the Mid-Ohio Valley Arts Collaborative so that every person in the area can leave a mark on their home.

Logan and Luke Reeder make cards to take home at the Parkersburg Art Center Booth during Fun Fridays at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg. (Photo Provided)

“When they grow up, they can say, ‘I was a part of that. I remember when I did that — and I remember when I worked with people in the community and connected with other kids,” Goudy said. “So that’s the same way with this — it’s about connecting them to their community as they grow up. They have these warm fuzzy feelings about what they did here. It really builds that sense of community and placemaking in our community — and that is really important because they’ve got to take care of the future.”

The next two Fun Fridays are July 7 and Aug. 11 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg.

Logan and Luke Reeder carve fish out of soap during Fun Fridays at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg. (Photo Provided)