Muncie First Thursday July events guide

Jane Imbody
| Muncie Star Press

Downtown Muncie will host its next First Thursday Gallery Walk with a slate of events from 5 to 8 p.m. July 2, highlighting local artists, live music and small businesses.

Visitors can explore multiple venues during the evening, each offering exhibits, performances or interactive experiences, according to a community announcement.

Artists, vendors and hands-on activities

At Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 E. Main St., activities will take place in the second-floor Great Room with a focus on young creators and entrepreneurs. Attendees can shop handmade items from youth campers alongside regular monthly vendors. The featured gallery artist for July is Yonathan Oren, and a free craft table will allow visitors to create their own journals.

MuncieArts, 216 E. Main St., will host its July Muncie Artist Spotlight from 5 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Muncie Civic Theatre. The event will feature Amren Klingaman, a Ball State University School of Art alum who works in oil painting and graphite. The showcase will explore themes connecting natural elements and personal autonomy, and visitors can learn more about the artist’s process.

The Muncie Makers Market will be set up at the corner of Walnut and Adams streets from 5 to 8 p.m., with growers and makers offering food and goods. Organizers say the market will mark the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, and “The Pie Lady” is expected to attend, according to the announcement.

Live demonstrations and entertainment

Kat’s Crystals & Curiosities, 111 E. Adams St., will host a live geode slicing event where visitors can watch raw geodes opened to reveal crystal formations. Prices start at $5, according to the announcement.

Madjax Muncie, 515 E. Main St., will host live music in the courtyard with the Hunter Lee Band performing at 7 p.m. as part of the Courtyard Summer Concert Series. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and can purchase craft beer, food and beverages from The Guardian Brewing Company.

After-hours music event

An additional event tied to First Thursday will continue later in the evening at Elm Street Brewing Co., 519 N. Elm St. The Songwriter Sessions, scheduled from 8 to 10 p.m., will feature original music and storytelling from regional artists Timothy Rye and Glenn Seland.

Organizers describe the sessions as an opportunity for audiences to unwind after the main gallery walk and hear songs directly from their creators, according to the announcement.