First Thursday: Health and Wellness

The warm-weather season officially gets underway in Del Ray this evening with the first First Thursday of 2012.

The neighborhood’s many health and wellness businesses are sponsoring the event, meaning the street festival—which runs from 6 to 9 p.m. along Mt. Vernon Avenue—will feature plenty of fitness demonstrations, massages and, well, other healthy things.

“From my standpoint, all the health and wellness businesses really rallied around the event this year,” said event organizer Melissa McGlone of . “We have 10 sponsors instead of just maybe three like in the past. I think that really is a statement on the wellness community here in Del Ray.”

Demonstrations and live performances from Rock of Ages Music kid bands will be staged in the Del Ray Farmers’ Market lot. There will also be a free raffle for festival-goers that visit at least one of the participating businesses.

“Prizes include things like free massages and physical therapy sessions,” McGlone said.

Also on Thursday, a bike rodeo will be presented in the parking lot behind Vital where the folks at will go over bike safety tips for kids.

(still wearing a coming soon banner) will hold an open house during First Thursday.