By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Spring is here and with that comes more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors and warmer temperatures.

One event that Helena residents and families can count on for a good time and plenty of shopping opportunities from local retail and food vendors is the Old Town Helena event dubbed Helena First Friday.

After taking a hiatus the first three months of the year because of colder weather, Helena First Friday will return Friday, April 7.

The April First Friday event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 9 p.m., in Old Town Helena.

In addition to the Old Town Helena storefronts staying open later and offering special discounts and surprises, there will be several food vendors in the area, musical entertainment and fun that will appeal to a variety of ages.

The vendors and organizations participating in the April First Friday event are as follows:

–Bee Creek Farm

–Helena Library

–Tiffany Hogue

–Keep Kristin Kicking

–Happy Daisy Art

–Whispering Hollow

–Studio V Salon

–Helena Fire Explorers

–Helena High FBLA

–Miracle League of Helena

–Lazy Boy BBQ

–Avadian

–Forgotten Alabama

–Helena Pepper Co.

–Tastefully Simple

–Lu La Roe-Sarah Schermerhorn

–Work of Heart

–Cahaba Dental Arts

–Arcara Home Reality

–Anne’s Trinkets and Beads

–Helena Art Council

–Dixie Land Concession

–Gospel Light

–Southern Fried Creative

–Plunder Design

–Publix

–Buffalo Rock

–Three Dazzling Diva’s

–Osborne Books

–Front Porch Designs

–Bama Woodworks

–The Peanut Standard

–Frio’s

–Kona Ice

–Damn Good Bacon Jam

–My Mellow Fellows

–Sounds Around Town 1

–JQ’s One Man Big Band and Thomas Trussell

–All About Inflatables

–Helena Teen Council

–Helena Belles

–Cotton Candy by Dixieland

–Paintable Perspective

–Grade Power

–Born Naked Children’s Boutique

“The main goal is to promote Old Town and Helena as a whole in business growth,” Helena First Friday coordinator Kristi Scozzaro said about First Friday last year. “We want people to come out and enjoy our local shops and have a fun time while we bring in vendors from around the area.”

Those interested in receiving vendor information for upcoming Helena First Friday events can visit Facebook.com/groups/466018606916145/.