UNA Partners With First Fridays Nov. 4

Oct. 21, 2011

FLORENCE, Ala. – Downtown Florence will be painted in purple and gold Nov. 4 as the University of North Alabama partners with Downtown Florence Unlimited (DFU) for First Fridays. First Fridays is a downtown festival featuring one-of-a-kind arts, live music, shopping and entertainment the first Friday evening of each month, March-December. Next month’s event will also feature more than 20 UNA departments and programs up and down the middle of Court Street, offering a variety of fun activities, displays and demonstrations. Among the activities will be a children’s magic show with The Wizard of TUNA, a photo booth, a performance by the winners of Step Show, and much more.

“This is a way of showcasing UNA to the community in a fun and creative way,” said Dr. William G. Cale Jr., UNA president. “This community is very important to UNA, as UNA is to this community, and so we are excited to be a part of an event like this where we can show our community and university spirit. We are deeply appreciative to DFU for enabling us to be a part of First Fridays in such a significant way.”

First Fridays will be the last day of UNA’s 2011 Purple Reign Week, an annual competition among area businesses and campus departments to show their UNA spirit. Winners in each of the Purple Reign competition categories – small and large businesses and campus departments – will be announced at a pep rally in front of Sun Trust Bank at 6 p.m.

DFU is holding a similar competition for First Fridays vendors called the Purple and Gold Spirit Contest.

The Purple Reign pep rally, hosted by Sun Trust Bank and Hampton Inn and Suites, will feature players and coaching staff from the Lions’ fall athletic teams as well as the cheerleading squad and Pride of Dixie Marching Band.