Downtown Pullman filled with Cougar fans last Friday for the First Down Friday event co-hosted by WSU, the Downtown Pullman Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pullman.
This event jump started the busy Apple Cup weekend, lining the streets with booths offering food, game day apparel and previews of merchandise between Moscow and Pullman.
Organizers aimed to highlight Pullman’s community spirit.
“It’s a really great opportunity for WSU and the Pullman community to just get involved and get excited about the football games, and cheering on our Cougars,” said Jennifer Willis, an event coordinator for WSU university events.
The booths and organizations offering Cougar merchandise were extremely prominent, offering a wide variety of new and old WSU gear, from Lettermans that date back decades to tees designed for this year’s Apple Cup. There was something for every audience.
In addition to the booths offering food, refreshments and Cougar merchandise, there were booths supporting local organizations such as The Janikowski Foundation, a non-profit focused on supporting local shops and farmers markets as well as advocating for children and animals. This event presented an opportunity for them to reach a new audience.
“I think it’s exposing the foundation to a lot of people that wouldn’t necessarily be at the tailgate parties or football games. So I think now it’s giving the charity exposure to a wider range of people,” said Gail Gheiser, a representative from The Janikowski Foundation.
Beyond the booths and vendors, the event carried a festival feel with a range of inflatables for the younger audiences to enjoy as well as a beer garden for older attendees.
With a DJ and booming speakers, the music was also a highlight of the event, featuring upbeat music and bringing with it an exciting feel for the evening.
This year’s First Down Friday events return to Pullman after a pause in recent years. The turnout reflected the excitement around one of WSU’s biggest football traditions.
“It’s like Christmas Eve, but for game day,” said Hannah Hutchison, a first-year at WSU who attended.
As the Apple Cup approached, this street fair style event captured both the anticipation for the big game as well as the long standing ties between the Pullman community and WSU.
“WSU and the city of Pullman have such a wonderful relationship,” said Haley James, executive director for Communications and Engagement in the Office of the Provost, who took the lead on organizing Friday’s event. “And so when we can bring fans and community members together before a big game in a celebratory environment, it strengthens that relationship.”
Although the big game has come and gone now, First Down Fridays will continue on throughout the season, bringing a lively community together to cheer on our Cougs.
