Inaugural “Final Fridays” kicks off in downtown Mt. Pleasant, uniting music with evening shopping

What’s Happening: Coordinated by Jenny and Riley Justis of Sleepy Dog Books, brand-new monthly events will take place on the last Friday of each month, June 28, July 26, and August 30 in Mt. Pleasant. From 6 to 9 p.m., downtown businesses plan on staying open later than normal, while the community is welcome to shop their in-store deals, discounts or specials, while listening to live music. 

Who’s Performing: Each Friday, the corners of Broadway/University, Broadway/Main, and Main/Michigan will host musicians with a wide variation of artists and music types. The musicians will play on the sidewalk for one-hour sets—meaning up to nine musicians will play each evening. For the first June 28 performance, community members can expect to hear music from Emily Faber, Steve Tyler, Caleb Cuneo, and more.

What They Are Saying: "Music, like books, is the lifeblood of a community's cultural identity,” says Sleepy Dog Books’s co-owner Riley Justis. “We are working as a downtown collective of business, leaders, and passionate individuals to breathe more life into our small town. Through starting small, one night a month this summer, we hope to start a movement and bring downtown Mt. Pleasant to the forefront of people's minds as they are looking for fun things to do with their families and friends throughout the summer months."  

How To Get Involved: Sleepy Dog Books is handling the coordination between businesses and musicians. Those interested in playing at one (or more) of the “Final Friday” downtown Mt. Pleasant events, are invited to email Jenny and Riley Justis at info@sleepydogbooks.com.
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Read more articles by Courtney Jerome.

With 15 years of professional media experience, Courtney Jerome has found a passion for storytelling and showcasing our region in a positive light. She's written stories for television broadcasts, numerous magazines, and digital publications. In addition, she owns a boutique creative marketing agency that focuses on social media, photo, and video storytelling for small businesses across Michigan and the country — courtneyjeromemedia.com. Contact Courtney, the managing editor of Epicenter, at editor@epicentermtpleasant.com.