DTSB First Fridays bringing hometown feeling with a little bit of country

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Boots were scooting all over downtown Friday evening, for Downtown South Bend’s (DTSB) August First Fridays block party.

Community members showed out in their best belt buckles and cowboy hats to match the theme, ‘Little Bit Country’. Many tried their hand in line dance lessons or soaked in the live country jams by Flat Water Music, like married couple Teven and Anton Luther.

The two are recent residents to the city, moving here from Chicago to be back in Anton’s hometown, South Bend. They said the August First Fridays was a big hometown welcome.

“I just notice the energy, we’ve been out here for maybe 30 minutes, and we’ve been already approached a lot like just, people being friendly,” said Anton.

Not only do the local shops lining downtown get a boost with the monthly block party, but many are also participating in Summer Restaurant Weeks 2025* from July 25 to August 10, which is also put on by DTSB.

“I think it just makes it even better… with all the fun and excitement that happens… during the regular week anyway, we kind of have this block party to just kind of… kick off another next… great month and hopefully… kind of just keep promoting… the small businesses around here and just keep… growing our economy here,” said the Assistant Manager at South Bend Chocolate Company, Allison Sailor.

“It’s really nice, I think they should do it more often actually. It’s really nice to see the city trying to get people out of the house, because a lot of things I notice from moving here is there’s not a lot to do, but the city is trying,” said Teven.