Creating a Habit of Community

Op-Ed by Amanda Holmquist, MDDP Executive Director

Twenty-five years ago, the idea was wonderfully simple. 

What if downtown Muncie came alive on Thursday night? 

At the time, most community events happened on weekends. Downtown already had galleries, artists, musicians, and creative businesses, but there wasn't a consistent opportunity for people to experience them together during the week. So local organizers tried something different: invite people downtown on the first Thursday of every month and encourage businesses, galleries, artists, and performers to open their doors. 

There was no guarantee it would last. 

Today, it has become one of downtown Muncie's most enduring traditions. 

Each month, First Thursday transforms downtown into a celebration of creativity, drawing residents and visitors to experience art exhibitions, live music, local shops, restaurants, food vendors, and creative businesses. Twice a year, First Thursday takes on an extra-special ArtsWalk edition, with June’s event known as the Brink of Summer ArtsWalk and October’s as ArtsWalk. While these events receive additional attention, First Thursday’s greatest strength may be its overall consistency. 

People know it's coming. 

Businesses plan for it. 

Artists prepare for it. 

Food vendors reach out asking where they can set up. 

It has become part of the rhythm of downtown. 

That kind of consistency matters. 

Communities aren't strengthened by isolated events. They are strengthened by traditions—experiences people begin to anticipate and build into their lives. First Thursday has quietly become one of those traditions. 

This year's Brink of Summer ArtsWalk offered a vivid example of its impact. Using data collected in partnership with the City of Muncie, organizers estimate that more than 5,000 people experienced downtown throughout the evening. 

That's 5,000 opportunities to discover a new business. 

To hear a local musician. 

To meet an artist. 

To share dinner with friends. 

To remember that downtown belongs to everyone. 

The event also continues to evolve in thoughtful ways. One of the most popular experiences has become Flower Hour, now in its seventh year. Participants purchase a ticket and visit 11 different downtown locations, collecting a single flower at each stop before assembling a custom bouquet by the evening's end. 

It's a simple idea with a powerful purpose. 

The experience intentionally guides people throughout downtown, encouraging them to step inside businesses they may never have visited before. Along the way, participants discover shops, organizations, and gathering places they might otherwise have overlooked. 

It turns exploration into an experience. That philosophy extends throughout all of Brink of Summer ArtsWalk. 

Creative communities don't happen because people are told to support local businesses. They happen because communities create enjoyable reasons to explore, connect, and return. 

Over time, those experiences become habits. 

For artists and makers, First Thursday offers something equally important: opportunity. 

Events like YART and the Muncie Makers Market introduce visitors to dozens of local creators, many of whom are building small businesses around their craft. For first-time vendors, First Thursday events can be the beginning of a much larger journey. 

Kristen Mummert experienced exactly that. 

"My cousin and I attended YART as a vendor, and it was our very first time selling crafts. I was so blown away by how accessible and vibrant the Brink of Summer ArtsWalk edition of First Thursday was. It was really something special to be a part of and makes me proud of being back home." 

That sense of belonging is echoed by longtime participants as well. 

"My favorite part was how many people came to see everything," said YART organizer Moth Danner. "It makes all the hard work truly worth it." 

Visitors and residents notice it, too. 

"I love seeing downtown full of so many people each enjoying so many different things: food, art, shops, music, and just being together," said Jena Ashby. 

For Jessica Rosales, the evening creates opportunities for an entirely different audience. 

"I love exciting ways for my kiddos to experience local art. Showing them the beautiful parts of Muncie while building a sense of community is a win for everyone." 

Those comments point to something larger than attendance numbers. 

First Thursday isn't simply an event, it's an invitation. 

An invitation to experience downtown differently. 

To support local artists and businesses. 

To meet neighbors. 

To discover something unexpected. 

To build positive memories connected to the heart of the community. 

These are exactly the kinds of experiences envisioned through the Creative Corridor initiative. A thriving creative district isn't defined by a single destination or one annual festival. It's built through recurring opportunities that encourage people to gather, explore, and participate in community life. 

Perhaps that's the most remarkable part of First Thursday after twenty-five years. 

It no longer depends on one organization making it happen. Artists plan for it. Merchants prepare for it. Food vendors ask to participate. Community organizations create programming. 

People simply know that on the first Thursday of the month, something special is happening downtown. That's how traditions endure. 

One evening at a time. 

The tradition continues Thursday, October 1, from 5–8 p.m., when downtown Muncie comes alive for the fall ArtsWalk, featuring YART, local art, live music, food, downtown businesses and the DWNTWN IDOL finale at Canan Commons.