The Gettysburg Library has secured funding to extend its First Friday Tunes music series through the remainder of 2026, building on performances that began in 2025. The after-hours events feature local musicians on the library's second floor from 5 to 6 p.m. each first Friday. Upcoming acts include Mandy Buttrum in March, Voices Three in April, and Thomas Long in May.
First Fridays have been a tradition in Gettysburg since around 2002, organized by the Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association (GARMA). These events offer family-friendly activities across the downtown area, with participating locations marked by special flags. The Gettysburg Library joins this tradition by hosting music performances after hours on the second floor from 5 to 6 p.m. on the first Friday of each month.
The series launched in 2025 with singer and songwriter Zach King in September, followed by Mike Kell's American and Folk playlist in November. It continued into 2026 with Nick Mich's Acoustic Country and Rock tunes in January, and Neil and Shannon's set of Americana, Rock, and Country music in February.
Funding from the Adams County Arts Council (ACAC) STAR Grant program will support the series for the rest of 2026. The STAR Grant promotes local arts, education, and culture in Adams County, with support from the Adams County commissioners, Gettysburg Borough, and the Robert C. Hoffman Charitable Endowment Trust. This initiative aims to foster an arts-rich community by aiding artists in the region.
Scheduled performers include Baltimore native Mandy Buttrum on March 6, who has played music for over 20 years and will present Alternative and Pop/Rock selections. On April 3, Voices Three—a trio spanning Folk, Americana, Pop, Jazz, and Rock—will perform. Thomas Long, a Schuylkill County native and solo acoustic guitarist with more than 40 years of experience, takes the stage on May 1, offering familiar songs from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Additional performances are planned for the summer and fall, and interested musicians can contact the library to join the schedule. Attendees are encouraged to bring food from local eateries and enter via the High Street entrance on the second floor. For more events, visit adamslibrary.org or the library's What's Happening brochure.