The City of Dayton on Friday, March 8, hosted its Friday Night Bites event in downtown Dayton, drawing in an estimated crowd of 200 or more people. This initiative, aimed at giving back to the community, has been well-received by local residents.
According to Dayton City Manager Kimberly Judge, the primary goal of Friday Night Bites is to provide the community with a local, accessible event featuring free entertainment, eliminating the need for extensive travel.
The event has encountered funding challenges in the past, hindering its quarterly schedule. However, this time, a significant portion of the costs for the entertainment, protective fencing, and lighting was covered by a generous grant from LJA Engineering.
The City also utilized Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT Money) to supplement the funding. This source of revenue, collected by cities and entities, contributes to the expansion of tourism by supporting events that attract visitors to the area, such as Friday Night Bites.
The evening’s entertainment was provided by Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers, a band based in the Houston area. Jack is a graduate of Dayton High School, adding a local touch to the event. The lively zydeco music created a vibrant atmosphere, with attendees enthusiastically dancing in front of the stage throughout the event.
Looking ahead, Judge expressed plans to organize the next quarterly Friday Night Bites in May, with a Cinco de Mayo theme featuring mariachi bands. The City of Dayton and the Dayton Enhancement Committee alternate their involvement with Friday Night Bites with the City arranging two per year and the DEC arranging the other two.
The date for the May event is to be determined. Judge said the City and DEC must first secure funding for the event.
If you are interested in being a sponsor of Friday Night Bites, call the City of Dayton at 936-258-2642.
