"First Day Of Springfield" Aims To Promote Businesses, Help Non-Profit Group

Brian Bull

Downtown Springfield is highlighting its business scene tomorrow.  The third annual “First Day of Springfield” event will benefit not only a non-profit group, but local shop owners.   KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.  

In past years, the event has been a pub crawl.  But Carolina Reid, Events Coordinator for Claim 52 Abbey, says this time it’ll be a more family friendly event held in the Sprout Regional Food Hub near the corner of A and Fourth streets. 

Reid says a percentage of the day’s receipts will benefit Downtown Languages -- an organization committed to aiding immigrant communities and building cross-cultural understanding.  

Promotional poster for this year's observance.
Credit Brian Bull / KLCC

“They run a lot of different programs: ESL programs, and immersion programs, for a lot of different ages and a lot of different people in the community," explains Reid.

"We’re interested in partnering with organizations need a little more exposure.  Downtown Languages is doing great, and an event like this can help bring even more exposure to the community.” 

The First Day of Springfield event goes from 5 to 9 pm Friday.  Trivia, raffle prizes, and wine tasting are on the agenda.   A Facebook events page lists participating vendors.

Copyright 2017, KLCC. 

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Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.