BEREA — Plans for the First Friday concert series to expand across Berea are in the works, according to Ali Blair, founder and executive director of the community entertainment program.

First Friday concert series promoter looking to expand--more concerts, smaller venues

Gina Hudson, president of the Berea Farmer's Market and crafter behind Threads of Hope, is in the race, as is Ali Blair, founder of First Friday Berea, and organizer of other community-centered special events. Leah Van Winkle, a program coordinator for the Brushy Fork Leadership Institute and permaculture advocate, has also announced her candidacy.

The race is on for City Council

Ali is the founder and executive director of First Friday Berea, a community entertainment program. She also organizes other community-centered special events.

Allison "Ali" Blair is the founder and executive director of First Friday Berea, a community entertainment program. She also organizes other community-centered special events.

2026 Kentucky General Election

Blair said this new format made possible by the additional Levitt monies is her “dream come true”. “I imagined First Friday as a night when galleries would keep their doors open late, people could gallery hop, and there’d be music all over town. This gets me back to where I wanted it to be from the beginning. We were focused on just one section of town, but I wanted to take this all over town.”

Blair said in her presentation she’s been wondering how to have a concert at Exit 77 off I-75 for people who live near there and don't have the same kinds of entertainment opportunities as exist downtown. Beyond music, part of Blair’s vision, she said, is “to build meaningful partnerships to address community needs beyond the arts, from food security initiatives and environmental sustainability.”

Plans to expand First Friday programming across Berea, with galleries, music, and events in more parts of town.

Wants to build partnerships to address food security and environmental sustainability beyond arts programming.

- Plans to expand First Friday programming across Berea, with galleries, music, and events in more parts of town.
- Wants to build partnerships to address food security and environmental sustainability beyond arts programming.

Public Services

As of October 6, 2026, Allison "Ali" Blair did not have a website or any information online.

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Now, the Levitt foundation is offering $40,000 per year in matching funds to produce 30 concerts (10 per year) over the next three years, as long as First Fridays continues to meet the Foundation’s guidelines and deadlines, Blair told the Commission. With the additional funds, Blair said she envisions not only attracting bigger name artists that will entice tourism from out-of-state, but also staging concerts and art experiences in more under-utilized spaces across town, at least four each concert season.

Said she envisions using additional funding to attract out-of-state tourism and hold concerts and art experiences in underused spaces.

- Said she envisions using additional funding to attract out-of-state tourism and hold concerts and art experiences in underused spaces.

Economy

Allison "Ali" Blair

As of October 6, 2026, Allison "Ali" BLAIR’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Allison "Ali" BLAIR

Allison "Ali" Blair is the founder of First Friday Berea and an organizer of other community-centered special events.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Alex SIPPLE

Barry D. Poynter

Brooke King

Dan Sipple

John Payne

Katie Startzman

Leah Van Winkle

Mike Barnett

Regina Hudson

Ronnie Terrill

Steve Caudill

Teresa L. Wren

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