Courtesy photo Make Believe Spurs was the first band to play at the Lunch on Ludington music series Wednesday at the Escanaba Marketplace. Activities are planned at the Marketplace nearly every day this summer. Performing, from left, were Molly Wallen, Mavis Farr and Brian Wallin.

ESCANABA — A group of area musicians are getting together Friday for a new event called Second Friday Night Jam. It is just one of the new activities taking place at the Escanaba Marketplace on Ludington Street this summer in downtown Escanaba.

Friday’s event is the first of three Second Friday Night Jam concerts scheduled this summer and one of many activities planned for the Marketplace.

“This week alone, there has been an activity nearly every day of the week and that trend is going to continue throughout the summer,” said Craig Woerpel, executive director of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority.

The Second Friday Night Jam will run from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Marketplace stage. Additional concerts will be held July 12 and Aug. 9.

On Tuesday, more than 30 youth participated in the Art @ the Marketplace. The Bonifas Arts Center is offering free art projects for those age 13 and younger. The program is running for nine weeks at the Marketplace with different art projects each week.

“The response this week was overwhelming,” said Kate Oman, gallery director at the Bonifas Arts Center. “We had more than 30 kids participate and are making plans to accommodate more in the coming weeks as kids and parents begin to realize the program is there.”

The Bonifas Arts Center is also offering eight weeks of culinary arts classes on Thursdays in the commercial kitchen at the Marketplace. Participants can register for the classes online at bonifasarts.org.

A returning event this year is the Lunch on Ludington Street music series. The first event was held Wednesday with more than 70 people attending. A different musical group will play each week for nine weeks with One Human Band of Iron Mountain playing next week.

“The Marketplace is a great space for people to gather. It was fun and a beautiful day to spend some time enjoying music outdoors during a work day,” Woerpel said.

On Friday, the Pop-UP Market will begin a new year. Vendors are able to sell their goods at the Marketplace each week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Escanaba Farmers Market started earlier this month. It runs Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to Noon.

“We’ve had a great start to our season this year with more vendors and customers than the start of last year.,” said Judy Schroeder, market manager. “Of course, it is early for most produce so we are expecting a good year this year as our vendors bring in their fruits and vegetables.”

Information on being a vendor at the Escanaba Farmers Market and Pop-UP Market is available at escanabadda.org.

Expanded activities at the Marketplace are also planned for Art Week this year from July 28 to Aug. 3.The week ends with the Waterfront Arts Festival at Ludington Park.

Other scheduled activities include music performances on Tuesday nights by students of Jim’s Music.

“The small stage is a great place for musicians to get experience playing publicly. I hope more people will take advantage of the stage for small performances,” Woerpel said.

A larger concert scheduled at the Escanaba Marketplace is the Lake Shore Live concert in September. It will be held the second Saturday on Sept. 14.

For a list of activities at the Escanaba Marketplace, go to escanabadowntown.com.