Gear up for a mini-HHM weekend in mid July, full of music, films, friends, beer and sun!

What’s better than a summer evening, out in the dusk with cool drinks, good friends, live music and funny flicks? Not much, and that’s why the Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival is running with that idea for a summer party in downtown’s Unity Park, located between Uptown Girl and Timothy’s Fine Cigars in the 100 block of Center Avenue.

The HHM Summer Party starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 11, with some spinning courtesy Lightnin’ Licks Vinyl Preservation Society (the moniker of Deon Baranek and Jay Glysz). At 8 p.m., festival favorites The HandGrenades are performing. Come 9 p.m., we will be projecting some adult comedic short films, then we’ll wrap with some more music from Deon and Jay. The whole thing ends about 11 p.m.

While a bag of popcorn will be provided with admission and there will be theater-style concessions available, we are encouraging attendees to get takeout from an area eatery and bring it to the park. Kegs of craft beer and sangria will also be available for $5 per drink. Admission is $10 and we are also encouraging our hellions to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Here are some of the downtown restaurants and snack shops to choose from: American Kitchen, Old City Hall, Heather’s, artigiano, Populace Café, Intermission Deli, St. Laurent Bros. (Ice cream!), G’s Pizzeria, Stock Pot, Zef’s, Rusty Saw, Fusion 1 Café, Riverfront Grille in the DoubleTree Hotel, Mulligan’s, Gatsby’s, Dockside, Café Cremosi, Brewtopia, Chan’s Eastern Garden, America’s Rudy’s Red Lion, Subway and Jimmy John’s, and until 6 p.m., the Sweet Boutique, the Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe, and Waterfront Market.

RSVP on the event’s Facebook page here.

The next day — Saturday, July 12 — HHM is putting on its fourth and final Indie Music Showcase of 2014 at BeMo’s Bar, 701 S. Madison. The lineup features one-man folk/rock band Morseville Bridge, followed by vintage sounds of Ronny Tibbs & The 305’s and the dirty, grunge-blues of the Mud Suns. Capping it off is the glorious and glamorous George Morris & the Gypsy Chorus, returning due to high demand after they first played Bay City for the HHM Brews & Bites fundraiser in May. 

Doors open at 8 p.m., with Morseville Bridge taking the stage at 9 p.m. As always, admission is free.

RSVP to the showcase via its Facebook page here.