ATHOL – This week brings with it the second in the Fourth Friday event series planned for this summer.

With a tip of the hat to Alice Cooper, the theme chosen for this Friday’s event is “School’s Out for Summer.” Main Street will be blocked off from town hall to Exchange Street to accommodate the celebration, which runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Parking for the downtown event is available in the municipal parking lots located between Main and South streets and behind Athol Public Library.

More than three dozen vendors offering food, crafts and an opportunity for community involvement will be on hand, and downtown merchants will also be open.

Downtown Vitality Committee Chair Mary Holtorf said the event will feature music and storytelling for all ages by entertainer Eli Elkus. According to his website, it was while walking the streets of Pioneer Valley communities and strolling along local rivers that he found his “love of folk music and storytelling…connecting with perfect strangers through meter, melody and merit-making story and song.”

Elkus’ performance space will be set up across the street from Déjà Vu Women’s Consignment, 479 Main St.

“The horses will be back again,” said Holtorf. “Cristen Lett of New Salem will be bringing her percheron. She’ll set up a little corral and bring the horse out so that kids can pet the horse. Percherons are these huge draft horses, work horses. It’s a pretty popular attraction at Fourth Friday.

“We will have a community booth set up, offering information about things going on around town. Of course, Los Agaves will have their street food available, set up on the sidewalk. Athol House of Pizza will be putting out tables for people to sit at – al fresco dining. Some of the new businesses downtown will also be open, as well as the regulars.”

Vendors who will be on hand Friday include: Athol Area YMCA/Camp Wiyaka/Camp Selan, Eastern Propane, Mass Toss, Athol Credit Union, Nubia Beauty, AT Arts-Floral Crowns, Tintagels Gate/Flowerland, North Quabbin Masonic Lodge (offering ice cream), Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant, Déjà Vu Women’s Consignment, Education Earth Museum, Girl Scout Gold Award, Commonwealth Health Center of Franklin County, Ken’s Legacy, Athol Democrats, S&S Appliance, Love Me Like a Reptiles, Bear Arms, TNT Co-op Mall, North Quabbin Community Coalition, Sleep in Heavenly Peace Beds, Sisters to Imagineers, Privilege 351 Barber, Sparkel & Shine Hair Tinsel, Ed’s Dream Dogs hot dogs, Leaf Filter, Pre K Kidz, Hair by Anthony, YMCA Youth Center, Clean Slate Medical Center, Mass Discount, Starrett Memorial Church, Athol-Royalston SEPAC, and Athol House of Pizza.

Holtorf said the popular Shark Fest will return as the theme of July’s Fourth Friday celebration.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@aol.com.