Downtown Roseburg Comes Alive During Fifth Friday Event

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Downtown Roseburg was filled with activity Friday evening as residents visited local businesses, sampled food and drinks, viewed artwork and listened to live music during the latest Fifth Friday event.

The Roseburg Receiver and The Roseburg Plug walked along Southeast Jackson Street and through other parts of downtown, capturing footage as visitors moved between participating businesses, vendors, artists and entertainment locations.

Held from 5 to 8 p.m., Fifth Friday included more than 30 shops, restaurants, food vendors, musicians and artists. Businesses remained open later than usual, with many offering refreshments, promotions, pop-up vendors or other special activities.

Rather than taking place in one central area, activities were spread throughout the downtown district. Streets remained open, allowing visitors to park and explore participating locations at their own pace.

Businesses Partner Throughout Downtown

Collaboration between businesses was a major part of the evening, with downtown shops sharing their spaces with local authors, artists, beverage makers and other entrepreneurs.

Yours Truly Bookshop hosted an author signing along with a wine tasting by Melrose Vineyards. HomePeople’s Goods welcomed The Bubblin’ Bear inside, where specialty drinks were served during the event.

Those partnerships gave visitors an opportunity to learn about multiple local businesses during a single stop. Throughout downtown, shops hosted pop-up vendors, demonstrations, samples and other activities intended to introduce visitors to what local businesses make, sell and provide.

Outside Gallery Northwest on Southeast Jackson Street, local artists and vendors displayed original artwork and handcrafted items along the sidewalk.

Muralist Chris Schake also created a live painting during the event, giving visitors an opportunity to watch the artwork develop in real time.

Live Music And Food Add To The Evening

Live music was featured at North Forty, Little Brothers Pub and The Rosebud Theatre, adding performances at several points along the downtown route.

The Real Gone Trio performed at North Forty, while The Rosebud Theatre hosted The Flicks, a tribute to The Strokes, with SawBasket.

Food trucks were also stationed behind Umpqua Homes on Jackson Street, while restaurants and participating businesses offered food, refreshments and samples throughout the evening.

The combination of shopping, food, artwork and music encouraged visitors to continue moving through downtown rather than gathering at only one location.

Vacant Storefronts Become Community Art Displays

The Vacant to Vibrant project was also represented during Fifth Friday at the corner of Southeast Jackson and Washington streets.

Visitors could learn about the project and help create additional “Portraits of Community” artwork for the installation.

Vacant to Vibrant transforms empty storefront windows into temporary public art displays. Its first installation, “Portraits of Community,” features handmade self-portraits created by local residents, artists and students using paper, yarn and found materials.

The initiative is sponsored by Thrive Umpqua and The Longest Table, with support from Umpqua Valley Arts. Artists Julie Bailey and Rachelle O’Brien helped launch the project as a way to bring color and activity to vacant commercial spaces while encouraging community participation.

Bringing Downtown Together

Fifth Friday is organized by Eric Andrews through Origami Creative Co. LLC and (re)Discover Downtown Roseburg, in partnership with participating downtown merchants.

The event is held during months containing five Fridays and is intended to encourage residents to shop, eat and spend time downtown. It also gives businesses an opportunity to remain open later, collaborate with one another and introduce customers to artists, vendors and other locally owned companies.

Friday’s event demonstrated how businesses can share spaces and audiences to create a larger downtown experience than any single location could offer on its own.

The next fifth Friday falls on Friday, Oct. 30.