Marietta Main Street’s November First Friday: Cheers to Charity will be held from 5-9 p.m. Friday. (Photo provided)

First Friday, a downtown Marietta celebration held each month, will be held from 5-9 p.m. Friday.

Coordinated by Marietta Main Street, the November theme is Cheers to Charity and the community is invited to join the effort to help the less fortunate in the area.

Marietta Main Street is partnering with the Salvation Army of Washington County for its Recycle the Cheer event. People are encouraged to bring donations of holiday decorations, new or used, from 5-7 p.m. to the Armory Lawn on Front Street where they will be collected by the Salvation Army. Decorations will be distributed to area families, to spread the cheer and brighten up their holiday season.

Also on the Armory lawn, the Marietta Community Foundation will collect donations for its Non-profit Challenge, Stock the Shelves, benefiting local food pantries. Artsbridge, Ely Chapman and the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County will be on hand with crafts for kids and Marietta Main Street’s Hometown Holiday Committee will be set up with all the possible ways to get involved with its holidays events.

Marietta College, Living Democracy, Memorial Health System, Washington State College of Ohio and the Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities also will be at the Armory.

Many downtown businesses will be supporting or raising funds for charities and nonprofits.

Peoples Bank Theatre will collect non-perishable food and personal care items in its box office for the Non-Profit Challenge with the Community Foundation. In addition, BlackBerry Smoke will perform on stage starting at 8 p.m.

At Threadz Boutique anyone bringing a donation for Eve Inc. will receive 15% off their purchase. River City Spaces will collect donations for the Humane Society of the Mid-Ohio Valley and has pledged 10% of its sales for the evening to the Humane Society.

Clutch Collective will host a food pantry fundraiser and giveaway. Donations support the Greater Marietta Community Food Pantry and every donation will earn a raffle ticket to win a hand-sewn quilt. Even donations made directly to a non-profit or at another location can earn a raffle ticket if the giver shows a record of a donation.

Clutch Collective also has pledged 20% of its sales for the day to the Greater Marietta Community Food Pantry. Owner Sarah Arnold said she wanted to focus on food insecurity.

“The holiday season is a time when ‘want is keenly felt and abundance rejoices.’ Together, we can help our local food pantries stock the shelves so they are prepared to care for our community this fall,” she said.

Big Blue, the student-run campus thrift shop at Marietta College, will be at Wit & Whimzy, which has pledged a portion of its total sales to Harvest of Hope. Jeremiah’s Coffee House will raise funds for Camp Hervida and its bagged coffee will be 20% off.

At First City Records, 10% of cash sales will be donated to Marietta Main Street. Customers can take advantage of in-store sales at both FCR and SWAGG and The Hopewell will perform live from 6-8 p.m.

Rockstar Wellness will kick off its canned food collection drive for the Gospel Mission Food Pantry, which will run until Nov. 29.

“We conclude with our POUNDgiving event on Nov 29 at 10:30 a.m.,” owner Rachel Burnham said. “This is a great way for our fitness community to give back in the month of November.”

In addition to the food drive, the ROCKsies Tap Group will perform at 5:30 p.m. and the public is invited.

Other special events include a free gift with a $75 purchase at Dad’s Primitive Workbench and 20% off all bells at American Flags and Poles. JustaJar Design Press will feature live music and poster giveaways and Green Acres of Marietta is hosting Rhonda the Psychic.

At Teri Ann’s, Windy Ridge Forge will be in the store with its hand-crafted products.

Downtown First Friday events take place the first Friday of every month from 5-9 p.m. from January through December. Highlights include late shopping, artists and musicians, area organizations and various activities tied into the theme.

To learn more about Marietta Main Street, upcoming events and programs, go to www.mariettamainstreet.org.