GALION — Despite a thunderstorm that cut short last week’s initial Third Friday in Galion festivities, organizer Miranda Jones deemed the event a success.

“I was so excited with the size of the audience,” Jones, the Member Engagement Director for the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce said. “It happened exactly as I hoped it would happen. We had a good crowd on the square to see the kids perform … and a lot of them stuck around for more than just that performance.

“There must have been at least 150 people there to see those kids.”

Jones said business owners she talked to during and after the event reported lots of foot traffic.

“Carol Kaple of the Brush & Palette Art Gallery said they got a lot of business from people walking in. I know (chamber director Joe Kleinknecht) went to Chris Big Plate Diner and they were packed. The Candi Bar had a lot of people stop in and Payne’s Pizza said they got a long of walk-in traffic,” Jones said. “I didn’t talk to everyone, but the ones I did talk to seemed very pleased.”

The rain showed up around 7 p.m. and those visiting in the Historic Uptowne Galion scattered, as did the local vendors and group representatives who had tables set up on the north side of the square.

A part of North Market Street was closed to traffic near the Gazebo, and that didn’t appear to create any difficulties for those passing through the downtown area.

The next event is June 16. The theme for that evening is public safety. A rescue demonstration is planned by the Galion Fire Department. Galion Safety Council will have it’s monthly get-together that evening and that will include a session on fire extinguishers and fire safety.

“It’s still a work in progress,” Jones said. “But we want to have some vehicles here for something like those popular “Touch a Truck” programs.

More details will be announced as the event nears.

“It was a good start,” she said. “My hope is that it keeps growing — and that the weather cooperates — and that it will snowball into something very good.

For more information on TFIG, check out the group’s Facebook page, or the Galion-Crestline Chamber of Commerce website. If you want more information or are interested in becoming a sponsor or a vendor, contact Miranda Jones via email at [email protected] or call the chamber office at 419-468-7737.