First Friday Guidelines

First Friday Participation Guidelines:

If you are a member of the Downtown Lakeland Partnership and are current on your dues you can set up a table or a booth at First Friday to promote your business.  We do not allow vendors at First Friday, therefore businesses outside of Downtown can not join the Partnership in order to sell items at First Friday. Businesses may join and pass out information or give away samples.  Membership is not restricted to Downtown businesses.

Non-Profit organizations who are members of the Partnership are allowed to periodically collect donations or sell items previously approved by DLP at First Friday events. Please contact us if and when this applies to you so as not to disrupt your ability to participate.

Political candidates are not allowed to set up or distribute campaign material during First Friday. I encourage candidates or party affiliated political organizations to partner with a downtown businesses who would allow them to set up in front of their businesses. The business must contact DLP prior to the First Friday event to notify us of the arrangements. 863-513-3669.

Occasionally depending on the theme, we may invite non-member organizations to participate if their presence adds to the the success of the event. Because we are a dues-based, not-for profit marketing organization, we expect businesses and organizations who wish to benefit from this event to help pay for it via membership.  Please do not invite non-member businesses to share your space. This is not allowed.

Placement at First Friday is dependent upon several factors:

1. Do you provide an activity or service that adds to the entertainment mix of First Friday? Those providing an activity will get better placement and access to the public.
2. Do you need electricity? Access to electricity requires certain placement.
3. Are you a GOLD member? GOLD members get preferential placement.

First Friday Set Up:

• First Friday events begin at 6pm.  Parking spaces are coned at 3pm. Streets are closed at 5pm. We suggest that you drop your set up materials near your location prior to the streets being closed at 5pm.  Once the streets are closed, getting close to your set up spot will be more difficult as you will have to cross barricades.  If that is the case, please enter from Massachusetts on to Cedar to unload your set up.  All cars must be removed from the streets, so you WILL NOT be able to park near your spot.  You may park in the Main Street garage or the permitted lot on the corner of Massachusetts and Cedar, directly across the street from the Main Street garage. See STREET CLOSURE MAP.
• Set up is in the streets’ parking spaces along Kentucky Ave.
• The DLP does not provide tables, chairs, tents or any other items for your set up.  Electricity and a smile are all we have to offer!
• Please respond EACH MONTH to the emails requesting your participation and activity at your booth.
• Once you notify us of your planned participation, we will email you a location for that month a few days before the event.  Locations change to ensure that there is proper rotation for members. Please be sure to respond to the monthly emails regarding First Friday participation.

• Please be sure to clean up your area upon leaving, making sure any trash or stray paper did not fall to the ground. We are responsible for the park and streets during the First Friday event.

First Friday Marketing:

If you provide an activity for the public during First Friday, please email us each month so that we can include your activity in the marketing. This helps the event and draws attention to your business.  We provide email blasts, web site updates and a map with information the day of the event.  If you do not initiate the contact with us, your information will not be included.

VIEW MAP OF LOCATIONS – Kentucky Ave Set up.

PRINTABLE COPY OF THIS INFORMATION

EMAIL US YOUR DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE