One of Millcreek’s signature June festival series, Venture Out! Friday Festivals, added a new activity to its June Friday Festival series—Twilight Markets.

The festivals take place every Friday night in June at a different park or school in Millcreek and entails an array of activities centered on a specific theme for the night. Children and adults enjoy free entry to evenings of live music performances from local bands, children’s activities like jumping castles, arts and crafts stations, a movie outside under the stars, a variety of food trucks and concessions, plus the newly-added Twilight Market, hosted by Went to Market and VO!.

The market includes 24 vendors that sell goods ranging from DIY watercolor paint kits, to jewelry, to baked goods to handmade artwork. Though most of the Friday Night Festivals’ programming appeals to children, the Twilight Market serves as an activity for adults to enjoy.

 “The goal is to have something for everybody,” said Aimee McConkie, who serves as the director of community life for the city of Millcreek. “The Twilight Market is definitely an enhancement.”

Venture Out! festivals have entertained hundreds of residents every Friday night during the past month as a way to get community members outside and share experiences together, according to McConkie.

“I’ve always had a passion for bringing community together,” McConkie said. “I wanted to do something different, so we focused on this idea of outdoor recreation.”

McConkie founded Venture Out! 18 years ago, before Millcreek officially incorporated as a city. When she started working for the newly-established city three years ago, she brought VO! with her as an initiative that offers free community events in Millcreek all year around, predominantly during the summer months.

“I’m trying to build those ‘sticky memories’ as I call them—when you bring unique things together and people have these moments, I believe that connects people,” McConkie said.

According to McConkie, there are no official employees of Venture Out!. Every role is either outsourced by a contractor and dozens of volunteers help out with the operations of every event, from running the concessions stand or monitoring the children’s arts and craft station. 

“I do believe that if a community gathers together, they feel connected and they feel like they live in a good area,” McConkie said. 

Check out the other Venture Out! events this summer and into the fall, continuing with Millcreek Movie Nights on Fridays beginning around 6 p.m. and ending at twilight starting June 30. Learn more on the Venture Out! website www.ventureout.org. λ