Downtown Bryan’s First Friday: A Journey Through Time and Transformation

Article By: Shalina Sabih, Staff Writer | BCS Chronicle

What You Need To Know:

• Started by Greta Watkins in 2005, First Friday has evolved with the support of organizations like the Downtown Bryan Association and Destination Bryan.

• Parking is FREE!!

• First Friday in Downtown Bryan boasts a wide range of vendors, from artisans selling handmade crafts to local businesses.

• Talented individuals like wildlife painter Wendy Wright and crafter Becky Sisco sell their captivating works of art as First Friday vendors.

From the cobblestone alleys to the paved roads, every first Friday of the month in the heart of downtown Bryan, various vendors come together to showcase their talents and sell their works of art. These roads, usually alive with the hum of traffic and the occasional blare of car horns, are closed off by the College Station Police Department and, in their place, a different kind of symphony emerges. 

The streets, now free from the noise of engines, are filled with the harmonious sounds of First Friday happenings: the strumming of guitars, the cheerful chatter of families, and the rhythmic clinking of glasses. This musical mosaic echoed through downtown Bryan last Friday night, turning every corner into a stage for the vibrant community celebration.

Humble Beginnings

First Friday was started in 2005 by Greta Watkins, a downtown Bryan business owner who sought a way to get more people to visit the downtown area. She envisioned an event where artists and businesses could collaborate to sell crafts in their stores. In 2013, the Downtown Bryan association started helping with the event to coordinate more outdoor activities, and in 2020, Destination Bryan was formed and has helped it evolve and grow since then. 

“It was an organic progression as more people started coming on Fridays, and it was an opportunity to make it bigger throughout the years, and it grew from there and more people started coming,” said Special Events Coordinator Caden Jones.

First Friday is an event that offers something for everyone, from market enthusiasts to avid shoppers. The array of locally-produced items for sale spans from charming crochet animals to aromatic scented soaps. Food lovers will also find plenty to indulge in, with a wide variety of delicious options available from multiple Bryan vendors.

This month-by-month event has applications open for people to set up booths. Applications open on the first of the month and close on the 15th of the month. They do about two parking spots for every vendor and Jones makes sure that there are live performances or activities at every corner of the market. 

“You want to walk through the event and see something new at every corner,” said Jones.

A sign posted informing the public of free parking at the Roy Kelly Parking Garage in Downtown Bryan. Photo by: Shalina Sabih.

La Joya Bargain Store

Yeseni Lopes has a resale store in Downtown Bryan and brought out just a few of her gems to showcase at the market. She also entices shoppers with deals like $10 off any purchase of $50 or more, making her store a favorite destination for those looking to score fashionable finds. When she is not working at her store she actively seeks new ways to promote her name, First Friday being one of those ways.

“The city gave me this opportunity to sell my products here and I'm happy I can share my work,” said Yeseni Lopes. Her booth features a diverse collection of clothing, ranging from bedazzled short dresses to Houston Texans jerseys, all offered at reasonable prices. Additionally, she showcases an array of jewelry and antiques, with many charming items priced at just $5, attracting bargain hunters and treasure seekers alike.

“Un-Bee-lieveable” crafts

Becky Sisco started her buissness because she thought that bees were incredible and smart creatures. Through her passion she found herself working alongside her daughter to promote how cool these critters are. 

“There’s a lot of people here and I get a chance to be out here and talk to people and be the light of Jesus and share love with everybody,” said Becky Sisco. 

This is their second time participating in First Friday, and despite the heat, they are determined to make the most of this opportunity to share their love for bees. Sisco is also a regular at the Saturday farmers market and hopes to own bees one day. 

Her booth consisted of all sorts of scented soaps, candles, stickers and many more bee-themed treasures. Among her creations, Sisco's favorite is a gardener's soap made entirely from natural ingredients. This honeycomb-like soap is crafted with a special kind of lard sourced from Mashian pigs, an ancient breed known for producing lard that leaves skin soft and smooth.

Animal Art

Wendy Wright, a wildlife painter and scientist with a master's degree in Ecology and Conservation Biology, often draws inspiration from her field observations during camping trips with her children. She also has shows she set up all around Texas educating people about birds. Her work was showcased in the MSC during the “lights out exhibit.”

“I love the fun family environment, there's a ton of stuff to do here and a little bit of stuff for everybody,” said Wendy Wright

Her vibrant artwork reflects the beauty of the natural world she studies. Among her striking pieces are a bright painting of a white owl surrounded by dandelions, a dynamic depiction of a blue hummingbird diving, and stunning portraits of various flowers.

“I try to create stuff that can educate people on the world around us and some of the things impacting the wildlife around us, particularly birds,” said Wright. 

Wendy Wright (right) is pictured with her daughter Aislinn Wright. Behind them are the various pieces of work Wright created while out doing fieldwork. Photo by: Shalina Sabih.

Participation and Community Engagement

For the month of June, they had about 130 different organizations come out. Whether it was showcasing what they sold or non-profits talking about what they supported, this presented an opportunity for everyone.

More information on how to showcase work can be found on their website.

Many customers browsed the local vendors as they displayed their first Friday shirts.

Destination Bryan has been able to estimate the number of people that visit over time. From January to April this year they estimated 26,000 visits to downtown Bryan during first Friday. 

“We definitely could not do this without the business and it really takes everyone and we could not do it without the support of the community, said Jones. “I want to give them a big portion of the credit for being there and for embracing First Friday.