On Sept. 6, 2024, the Grand Circle Art Alliance (GCAA) held its last First Friday of the year.  In this past, the monthly event took place inside The Gallery on 7th Avenue. This time, the alliance worked with the City of Page to extend the event outside into the parking lot. Live music was performed by ‘just before midnight.’ GCAA President Wagner Kelly grilled hotdogs and brats to make sure no one went hungry.

Although it was the last First Friday of 2024, it wasn’t the last GCAA event of the year.

“On Sept. 19, we have our Paint and Pour over at LP Espresso,” said GCAA Vice President Gail Unger. “And then Oktoberfest the 27th and 28th, Friday, Saturday, we are going to have a booth set up and we're going to have what we're going to call Make and Take. We're going to pick two of our best Paint and Pour sellers and we're going to offer them there at the Oktoberfest. People can just walk up and pick what they want to make.”

“Oct. 11 is our Enchanted Evening, and this year's theme is Under the Sea. That's on a Friday night, at the golf course.”

“That's going to be a black tie, ticketed deal, big art show,” said Kelly. “We're going to have it catered.”

The alliance is also planning a Christmas event to close out 2024. First Fridays will return beginning March 7, 2025.

Kelly said the monthly events are getting more popular, so they expanded into the parking lot. “The city has really helped us out with the lighting system, the barricades, so we can have this outside in public.”

The Chronicle spoke with Deron (DJ) Lister, City of Page events coordinator, at the First Friday event. Speaking of the city’s support of the event, he said, “This was all provided through a special event application. It can be found online on our event website. Anytime you want to use some city properties or anytime you want to maybe shut down a street for an event, anybody is able to apply for a special use permit, and that's what makes tonight possible. So, on this permit, you would let the city know which facilities you're interested in renting, whether that's the sports complex or something. Recreation, like a home run derby we have coming up, or maybe this past summer's overnight softball tournaments to the Lake Powell Half-Marathon, or maybe some other favorite local events like Oktoberfest.

“So, we see groups coming in and holding what are called mobile events - events that are mobile from city to city. A great example is the Lake Powell Vacation races. They do a great job of showcasing our town and really bringing something great to the community. Other people, like the Grand Circle Art Alliance, have property. That gives them the ability to maybe cut costs as far as not renting the space, not needing to rent sanitation services or trash services, or import things like water or anything else that might be needed for an event’s success.

“So here on 7th Avenue, the Grand Circle Art Alliance has put in a special use permit to mostly utilize these barricades to make sure they're in compliance with their series 15 liquor license, which is available to any nonprofit, like the Chamber of Commerce. But we have a lot of really great nonprofits in the community. And reaching out and getting the city to partner with them, I think, is really, really important. Our city, I think, has a desperate need for volunteers, and we see that across all facets, not just here on 7th Avenue, but also with our children's youth activities and for other community events and educational services and lectures, really things that bring a lot of culture and value to the community that we love.

“The Grand Circle Art Alliance is doing a really great thing. I think they have over 50 members, and tonight they're showcasing over half of them. You know, not all mediums can be shown in space, but I think it's a great outlet to get creativity out into the community and inspire either our neighbors or the next generation. They're doing some really great work here, and we're happy to support them.”