1) The local Night Owl Country Band will steer the outdoor fun in the right direction at the season’s initial free First Fridays Cruise-In at Hope from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Hope Town Square on Main Street (music begins at 6 p.m.). To-go food will be available from the three restaurants on the square. Canned food donations will be accepted for the Community Center of Hope food bank. Information: Main Street of Hope at 812-343-3798.
2) The free Columbus Farmers Market kicks off a new season from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. along First Street in the city parking lot behind Columbus City Hall. About 50 vendors are expected, according to organizers. In keeping with tradition, the Banister Family Bluegrass Band will provide live music to launch the new year of everything from produce to art. Organizers attracted about 400 people per gathering last summer. Vendors will be masked and spread a good distance apart for safety. Information: columbusfarmersmarket.org
3) The Columbus Area Arts Council’s third guest lecture in its online speaker series "Women Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs—Working & Living in Full Color," is scheduled at 6 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom. The presentation "Language Matters" will bring together two arts and social justice practitioners in a discussion on communication in the arts – the people, the words and their impact. Kelli Morgan is a curator, educator and social justice activist who specializes in American art and visual culture. Guest moderator, Shauta Marsh, is a co-founder of Big Car Collaborative, a social practice artist, curator, writer, author and researcher. The series is presented in collaboration with the African American Fund of Bartholomew County and IUPUC Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Information: artsincolumbus.org
