Friday, April 3, 2026, was my most recent visit, and, by far, my least favorite. It was the singular nightlife destination for high school kids from across the valley. They made up the vast majority of the turnout. This was easily confirmed by our visit to Modest Brewing Company, which only permitted entry to folks of drinking age. It had a normal amount of patronage, making it feel like being in the eye of the storm. Main Street was overcrowded along the entire stretch of the Arts District, between Bonneville Avenue on the north end, and Oakey Boulevard on the south end. Anyone age 21 or above will feel too old to be there, and therefore never return to this event. This effect will reinforce itself, such that the event has permanently shifted to the under-21 crowd. Consequently, bars will have a modest--no pun intended--revenue boost, at best, on the first Friday of each month. Not surprisingly, parking was a lost cause. So, we parked on the side streets near The STRAT. On the bright side, the double chocolate chip cookie I had from Cookies A'More was amazing. I also enjoyed the Waffles Belgian blonde ale at Modest Brewing; the Candy Bar Kiloton stout at Able Baker Brewing; and the Crispy Cauliflower Bánh Mì at Arts District Kitchen. read more

Local and local ! If you have not come out for first Friday, you're missing out ! Wr came downtown on a Friday and wow, the atmosphere is wild and beautiful! It's a great place to get your anxiety all up and moving. Art is here and over there! Turn your head and you will miss the crazy going on. It an amazing experience, local and Vegas only . What's not to see come out and see! If it's been a while since you have come out to Main Street, it's been so long, it's all changed . Oh my my my ! The change is approaching, it's here. The Main Street atmosphere is strong and truly "hip!" It's local and Vegas . Come check it out. It's all Vegas done small and fun! You have to wait another month to come back out. So plan for next month for First Friday and all its fun . read more

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Had such a fun night at First Friday this month! The streets were packed with incredible local art and vendors that kept me browsing for hours. I loved the rock memorabilia displays especially all the Grateful Dead stuff with the tie-dye, stickers, and collectibles. The spray paint art booths were next-level too, with painted cans turned into fun characters and colorful pop-art prints (Felix the Cat collage was a standout). Everything felt creative and unique under the string lights. The food trucks were a highlight as well. There were tons of options, but my favorite by far was the lumpia super crispy and delicious. I definitely went back for seconds! Perfect mix of art, music, and good eats. If you're in Vegas, definitely check it out. Can't wait for the next one! read more

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If you are in Vegas and looking for some fun on the First Friday of each month, then this event is worth a drop in. Located within the art district, starting at 5pm streets are blocked off for music, vendors and galleries are open late. The event does draw quite a crowd, especially super young people from high school. Parking can be challenging: parking can be found on streets or in lots. read more

First Friday - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

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I came here last month after having dinner nearby. The last time before this visit was probably around ten years ago. It's still similar to what I remember. Street food from food trucks, dj's, local vendors, drinks, and a lot of people come here to party. It's a mixed crowd but I'd say it's mostly younger people and my guess in their twenties. It's not my scene because I'd rather be home but I'll occasionally come here to have some fun with my girl. read more

Fun night, great food and unlimited places to see. Check it out! And don't forget to find the 10 dollar tatto joint. read more

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This free street vendor event is absolutely A VIBE!! So much music, art , good food and even better vibes from the people around enjoying ourselves! Thai is definitely a Las Vegas gem event I'm so glad it's every month! read more

First Friday - Custom lemonade - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

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Definitely a fun experience, I would go if you've never been! but I don't know if it's something I would go to consistently. I would definitely recommend ubering as the parking is not very plentiful and you'll most likely end up parking somewhere unsafe. We had homeless people knocking on our car window and all of the other cars surrounding us. There was a shooting pretty close, so all of the surrounding streets were taped off and cop cars on every block. It is an interesting crowd, for sure. There was lots of cool artwork and different booths with very pretty art pieces and unique items. They had a booth to try new drinks and there is lots of food trucks! read more

First Friday - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

If you get a chance and are in Vegas the first Friday of any month, try to make it to the Arts District "First Friday" event they have every month. IN THE HEART OF LAS VEGAS THE FIRST FRIDAY FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE. EVENT PURPOSE: The event purpose is to create platforms for emerging artists, support community connection, and bring artistic experiences to the community through outreach programs. The First Friday Foundation works with community-minded organizations across the Las Vegas valley including schools, youth groups, senior centers, ethnic and faith-based organizations, and other non-profits. They celebrate diversity and engage people around one core central theme - CREATIVITY! Overall is a fun and wonderful event for all walks of life including children and pets as well as party goes and adults. Highly recommend, we had a blast! read more

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If you're ever in Vegas on the first Friday of the month, definitely make a trip to First Friday in the Arts District! It's grown over the years. Still a large turn out of various artist and their work. They also have a section for food trucks and vendors. Lots to see and eat here. A very creative, festive, and friendly environment. There's also various musical acts, from DJ's to live bands. A great place to hang out and enjoy the evening. We came early, 4:30pm, and parked in the Arts District on S. Main Street, near the various bars, restaurants, and antique shops. Paid about $5 for 3 hours on the street parking meters. I would say 3-4 hours is a good amount of time to check out everything and grab some food & drinks. read more

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Parking can be a pain you'd have to come early. There's different venue and food trucks to check out as well as live entertainment

1st experience. Loved all the choices. Loved all the locals that represented our community! I must say Eric Roy law office had one of the best booths and had the best energy!! Dance contest, free t-shirts, and character drawings. The pizza truck was amazing pizza but the service was awful! Not one person smiled, same with the chicken /catfish. Smile people we are trying to support the local business! Music was great. It wasn't my favorite genre, but the young man performed a great show! It was a hard rock/rap but he sang better live than most big name performers!! Also must add the Latino DJ was super good! And I must add Hot Dogs on a Stick was the must have!! Always perfect and the friendliest of all venders!!! read more

First Friday - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

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It has been years since I last went to First Friday. A culprit of a change in job locations and the pandemic. I would have given it a 3 at best. It was small, laid out awkwardly and the entertainment was hit or miss. So much has changed since then. Instead of the parking lot being filled with booths, they moved the action over to Main Street. If I had to estimate, there were more than 2x the amount of vendors plus a dozen or so more food trucks. Everything was easy to find. We were blessed with the opportunity to see Chasing Light Music perform. They are fantastic, especially the lead singer. The art exhibitions in the building were great. I enjoyed the various art vendors selling pins, collectibles, cookies, jerky, and their own art creations. Nearby Dragons Alley/Taverna Costera gave us a great place to warm up from the cold. A second, smaller stage had another enjoyable band and the art district offers multiple mainstays and new bars and restaurants for the after-party. read more

After many years in Vegas I finally managed to go to a first Friday. It was such a blast! Everyone was in a good mood and there was so much going on! Me and my friends enjoyed bar hopping! read more

First Friday - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

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Our fourth of July was celebrated here. This was maybe my fourth time coming and besides my first time this was probably the best experience I had. The community is very open and all the vendors show so much kindness. They have food trucks, small vendors, a bar, and partnerships with cannabis stores. The companies hand out the best freebies and even the small business have began giving out samples. The vendors do become reparative the more you go but it's still tons of fun. read more

For over 20 years First Friday has been showcasing local artists, makers, cooks, and musicians creating a vibrant community space for all to enjoy. I recommend bringing a friend to join you in a walk down 1st street which will be lined with vendor booths each full to the brim with handmade arts and crafts. And don't forget to grab a bite to eat from one of the dozens of food trucks parked at Art Square. read more

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It's been awhile... My neighbor wanted to karaoke, so we met up at Ninja at 7:30pm. Dead. Decided to take a walk around 18b. The name, "18b," represents the original Arts District area, which consisted of 18 blocks. Despite living nearby, I tend to avoid the crowds. Actually, it wasn't that bad, and I actually enjoyed the stroll. There's cool vendors hawking everything from jewelry, clothes, and soap. A few street musicians, who actually can play, serenaded on Main St. Not a bad summer night in Vegas (104f)! read more

First Friday - Nancy at Huichol de Quetzal - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

I've lived in Vegas for almost two decades and not once have I visited First Friday or even the Arts District. I mean, I've been close on Main St but never crossed Charleston in to this particular area. We've met some new friends who love First Friday so they asked us to meet them out. I had to work late that Friday so I was very worried about parking. I mean I hate parking downtown when it's not First Friday so I couldn't imagine what it was going to be like. Lucky for us, we decided to start looking fairly far away from our meet up spot and were able to find spots right away. I won't say where (lol) but it was only like 5 or 6 blocks away and took us less than 10 min to get to First Friday. After spending some time doing karaoke, we hit up the food trucks. It was busy to me but one of the people we were with said it was less than the month before, which if true, is insane. Luckily, the truck we wanted to eat at had a shorter line but some lines ran at least 30 sets of people deep. That's the thing I don't like about events like this. The long lines and the very expensive food trucks. I mean did I love my quesadilla? Yes! Was it worth $80 for 4? Not really. There are so many vendors and food stalls. It can be a bit overwhelming in terms of sheer volume but it also can be a bit underwhelming in terms of what items are being sold. Maybe it's because I'm not an artsy person, I don't buy art and put it up on my walls, but it was still fun to see all the things. I did buy quite a bit of small things though, like stickers and enamel pins. Would I want to come back? I'm not sure. But I would highly recommend if you're into being in large crowds and having a feast for the eyes. read more

First Friday - This isn't busy according to friend. - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

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This is a must! The whole scene of creators and locals wandering and appreciating all form of art is amazing! It is family friendly as well as I take my kids, just be mindful there are a lot of people. The booths are fantastic and have a array of goodies, art pieces, snacks, and anything you can think of. The food trucks have a nice variety of things available to eat, if you find the truck with the pineapple lemonade you need to get you one! I cannot say enough great things about this event, it truly is a great time for everyone with an abundance of things to do. read more

First Friday - Some of the city art! - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

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Hmmm. I've heard so much about this event, finally went to experience it. If you park at 500 S. Main parking garage you can take a free shuttle to the arts district. From the shuttle drop off walk toward Charleston and S. Main corner and you'll see the entrance to the first Friday. Its free to enter, its dog friendly, they have bars where police officers check your ID and place a "party" wristband on you. Decent selection of libations to pick from. The vendors at the first Friday range from artist, handmade cosmetics (soap, lotion), candles, incense holders, vintage reclaimed clothing, jewelry, hats. Also various art galleries you can walk into and explore. There are food trucks stationed inside as well. I was honestly expecting so much more and will say this event was lacking luster and did. It fulfill my expectations. read more

First Friday - First Friday - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

I LOVE FIRST FRIDAY. This is exactly what the city of Las Vegas needs to keep the culture alive! I remember yearssss ago, my family had the very first food truck there. It was NOTHING like it is today. Then, it was just a one street event. Today it's an entire block party so big that parking is a headache! So definitely get dropped off in a uber so you can spend more time stuffing your face while you look at art than looking for parking read more

Scary. Of the 50 or so crafty booths, there were maybe 5 that I would consider based on the quality. I was leery of any food places, because so much of the prepared food to sell was exposed. It was nearly impossible to find bottled water. People were dressed and acted like the devil - red face, horns, and all. Lots of men in dresses with tube socks carrying purses. Women looked like witches minus the hats or like they could kick my behind. There was a literary open mic section to read poetry. Every reading was cheers to queers. I have nothing against people with alternative lifestyles, but really?... everyone shouting this out? No mention of the beauty of nature or generic love or puppies or rainbows... just queer messages. There was a long-haired guy in a cute shift dress on a corner (he was actually pretty) yelling "we're in a revolution!" "Come talk to me about the socialist movement", whatever..He sounded so professional and manly... it was just creepy hearing this tone coming from a "pretty lady", like a scary doll. The whole place was just off... and it was about a good 0.5 square miles of this non-stop. It was like a Halloween costume event, without the fun or cute costumes. read more

Free parking can be bad. Luckily for us, we did a few loops and found one about 3 streets away, 7mins walk and we were there. Free entry. If you have time and are antsy to get outside and want to do something, this is the place for you... basically for free, if you're just walking and viewing. Food lines can be long. Lots of art to see in the bldgs, lots of vendors to buy stuff from. A few DJs playing music to pump the crowd. It can get crowded later on in the evening. Overall, a nice evening out, walking around and window shop. . read more

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Pre pandemic I used to come to first fridays and this is my first visit back for first Friday during Covid-19 on May on May 7th. Before coming to First Fridays plan accordingly with parking and the friends and family you will be going with. You will have a hard time looking for parking if you come at the peak of the event. I recommend taking a rideshare, carpooling with your friends or be very patient on looking for parking around or near the event. According to the event, they mentioned that its required to make reservations for your spot which I booked for 2. But when we went the staff did not check or ask to see your confirmation. I believed the event did this to control foot traffic on who is coming in and coming out. A lot of the artists are in the buildings and you have some artists and vendors outside. The food trucks were separated from the Art and vendor section. if you are planning on eating expect to be waiting in line which was very long. We wanted to eat at the Food trucks but the lines were crazy long like an hour wait. Overall, I enjoyed a couple of artists work and getting to know them. read more

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First and foremost, the worst thing about First Friday (only one bad thing) is the PARKING. In fact, this recent event was my third attempt at attending the huge public outdoor festival. Previous attempts involved a frustrated me driving around for half an hour to an hour, looking for a parking space before giving up and leaving. There are paid parking lots but its dark lighting in a corner of the district is a little sketchy. I'd like to return to my car with the windows still in tact. The alternative is the plentiful street parking under bright lights in populated areas. If you can snag a spot, you've hit the lottery and are ready to get to stepping. SO MUCH TO SEE during First Friday it's incredible. Artists, weed info, food trucks & vendors, dancers, musicians, crafts, and this is just in that square plaza area on the North side of Charleston. To the South are all the regular businesses like bars, galleries, and coffee shops open during later hours opening their doors to the visiting crowds. Dress in comfortable shoes because there's a good amount of walking in exploring all that is to be seen. First Friday is such a cool community event, I could see myself attending many times again for the variety of food and culture... Though next time I'll probably take a Lyft. read more

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If you want to get out the first Friday of every month and see some vendors, local art, get some grub and hang out, look no further! That's just what this is!! There is a food truck area that is well laid out, has lots of options and plenty of seating! You can get everything from tacos, pizza, pasta, burgers, seafood, milkshakes, donuts, hotdogs.... They have a lot of options! The vendors are varied from art, dog treats, jewelry, clothing and so on. They have different things and you can take your time looking at it all. Most of this is free to access. There was one part that wanted to charge you to get into. But that part was more for the DJ and to hang out. Not shop. So it's what you make it and what you want out of it. There is plenty of parking, you just have to look for it. The later in the evening it gets, the more parking fills up. So just be patient. This is a street event so there will be walking involved. Wear comfortable shoes and just be prepared. read more

So much fun! So many things to do, eat, see, drink... it's endless! Last night was Brew Fest / First Friday and I was so jealous that I couldn't go and drink and look around as much because I was working the event but they had the milkshake wasted truck, taco trucks, hot dog fries, the potato tornadoes!! Live music and so much more. Every first Friday of the month (example: May 6 was the "First" Friday of the month) they do this event! Make sure to come down to the arts district and check it all out! read more

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If your into art and/or food, then First Friday is a must!!! There are many many options of art and food vendors throughout the whole venue. Nearly every local has tried out First Friday. read more

What a nightmare to find parking! People driving around the arts district for hours to find a parking spot! The event continues to grow and all the city does is to install kiosks on all the streets and charge for parking every spot at least a mile around the event. The whole area is surrounded by run down vacant dilapidated properties and land and won't build a parking structure! Event website says there's parking about 1/2 mile at 500 Main Street and a shuttle will be running regularly to transport people to the event! Not the case. No shuttle ever showed up. Elderly people standing on Main for hours today waiting for a shuttle. People called event telephone number and they have no idea where one should park and don't know about a shuttle. Google event parking for First Friday and that even states a shuttle will be running regularly. read more

I was really looking forward to First Friday, since my roommate and classmates talked it up like it was a huge outdoor art/music/food festival near Fremont St. - which attracted local artists, food vendors and musicians. First of all, it's no where walking distance from Fremont St. if anything it's at least a 15 minute Uber ride to the actual street. When we arrived around around 8p, there were a handful of vendors selling stuff like, art, T-shirts and crystal rocks. I didn't see and get the vibe that everyone talked this event up to be. The alcohol sold was only beer and wine. My roomie and I ended up looking on Yelp for the closest bar, and found Mingo Bar (review coming soon!). After hitting up the bar for a round of drinks and an appetizer, the crowd definitely grew from when we first arrived. But I still didn't see much of the art vendors I initially expected to see. There were definitely a lot of drunk people walking around, booboo. I may have to give it another try in September to compare, but I didn't have a real memorable experience at this event. read more

First Friday - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

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So much food to choose from. Mind you, the food is very expensive compared to the same food trucks at another location. They gotta pay a fee to park here, so you gotta pay for it too with the bill. But it's not just about the food. It's being around so many different people. So much different cultures walking around. You pretty much serve yourself around here. You can make a quick walk to Main Street and go shopping for even more things. Lots of local businesses here to support. Love stage makes it nice to be here too. read more

After years and years of going to First Friday. I'm a big fan of the 18b Arts district and it's time to yelp up and pay my respect to First Friday...here's your executive summary: FF Food: The local foodie truck vendors are usually well represented especially when the weather is nice. There's a wide array of food to sample and link up via social media if you want to find the trucks outside of FF. Alcohol is available and controlled well if you're looking for drinks as you stroll along. FF Art and misc: I usually stroll around The Arts Factory and Artifice to check out the cool local art. Afterwards, I'll hit the streets to check out the cool art vendors setup for First Friday. Talented artists are a plenty and Pop art is represented well. You can also find numerous unique arts and crafts that you wouldn't find in any store. There's something for everyone. FF Entertainment: You'll definitely find some diverse live street music entertainment. Performance stages are also showcased throughout FF. Watching the artists paint or create art live is entertaining to watch as well. Some First Fridays are better than others and it appears to occur when the weather is nicer (no wind or rain) in the evening. Parking can be a challenge: you can get lucky with free parking on the sides street or pay $10 to park in lot. The crowds are diverse with locals from all over the valley and definitely family (and pet) friendly. This is a (free) intimate local's side of Vegas you won't find on The Strip that has something for everyone. See you at the next one! read more

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Just got back from First Friday for the first time and I have to say: If you didn't have the chance to go before make it point to do so :) I will start with the food: if you are a foodie person, enjoy different things, carnival food, food trucks, and home made style dishes this is a must for you. It has been a while since I seen so many food trucks and vendors in one location (Foodie fest style). The smell from each location is great. You can't try them all in one night but the lines to each one shows how good it is. Music is everywhere, live band stage, DJ's playing different kind of music in different locations and lights to get you into it :) The Art galleries are open for everyone to go around, view and if you are looking for something that is not mainstream you are sure to find it there. There are different vendors tents everywhere, from Vinyl stickers, gages, shirts and things you don't see everyday. This is a great spot to come in with friends, kids, family, date or even just walking with your pet, I highly recommend it. Parking might be a little tight but if you don't mind walking 5 minutes parking is easy. I just wanted to note that if you are worried about security, because this is an open venue and free for all to come in(no cover charge) metro is everywhere - makes you feel safe. read more

First Friday - Booths and food trucks everywhere:) - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

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Not sure if it's the time of the year (February), but we were very disappointed on our first visit to the arts festival. It was much smaller than we thought. It literally took us less than 25 minutes to walk it. There were maybe 40 booths selling mostly paintings and jewelries. Work quality in general was not impressive. The most interesting art was the paintings inside a dark tent where you are given 3D glasses and hand-held black light. The rest of the booths were ho-hum at best. There were some food trucks and a center stage. Underwhelming is the word I would use to describe it. read more

I used to be a frequent First Friday regular every month. I come here to try out new food from local food trucks/stands and check out all the locals artists and vendors. It is a nice place to spend the evening eating good food and checking out all the arts. Or you can check out various local artist performing on stage or street all around the area. I like taking new people to show them the "local" side of Las Vegas and not just the strip. They also have a stand to purchase alcohol for you thirsty folks. I did stopped going for several months because I started seeing the same thing. After coming back, it seem like they have expanded their food options and have more vendors to check out. It looked busier than ever but I still enjoyed the vibe. Parking can be hectic but we always find parking on the streets even though it may be a few blocks away. This time we tried the shrimps on a stick from Nic. The shrimps is amazingly good. It is grilled to perfection and flavorful. We also got the garlic chicken combo and garlic fries from small kine grindz. Boy, was the chicken soooo good! The meat was tender and the skin was super crispy. You can definitely take the garlic flavor if you love garlic! The garlic fries was okay but wished it was a be crispy. We also got the lava flow from wowwow Hawaiian lemonade. It is made with coconut, pineapple, and strawberry perfection blended to satisfy your thirst. There is a bar located inside the FF area too where you can come grab a few drinks to enjoy the night away with your friends. Overall, I will come back here to check out the other vendors. We came a bit late so we didn't get a chance to explore everything. It seem like it has gotten bigger with more things to do. read more

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This is one of those events that unfortunately has taken a sharp decline in nearly all categories that one would rank such an event: fun, value, entertainment, and cultural value. When I first attended First Friday about a year ago, it was a very expansive festival covering several blocks of downtown and showcasing several local artists, local food trucks, and mom & pop retail stores. It had great live music and an eclectic mix of attendees that made for great people watching. Over the past few months, though, the numbers of participating artists has declined dramatically and the food selection has been reduced to a few overpriced food trucks. The amount of real estate that once hosted First Friday has reduced dramatically as well and the crowd that attends the event has become a lot more shady and drunken. It's now not a lot different than Fremont Street but covering a different part of downtown. Beggars and scam Charities are there now along with a few scant artist booths and beer booths. Parking has become a business more than anything and now everyone and their brother that owns an orange vest collects $10 for parking in any random dirt lot you can find. So sad. First Friday used to be about showcasing local artists and spreading culture through the "Arts District." Now it's nothing more than yet another way to squeeze every last dollar out of anyone that walks by. read more

First Friday - My daughter experiencing the arts at First Friday. - Performing Arts Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

What happened to you First Friday? You've shrunk to less than half your size! As of June 5, 2015 FF is now relegated to what I used to consider the "end" of this event. First Friday is now ONLY on the corner where the Arts Factory and the Artifice are. No more is the impromptu skate park, the free for for all graffiti, or the stage nearby that was host to some spiffy entertainers (like flame throwers!). All that's left are the food trucks, EDM stage, main concert stage, and your usual oddball street performers. You can walk FF in 10 minutes and there's not much to do. I remember maybe 3-4 years ago, there were A LOT more galleries open. Now there's just Arts Factory :/ Worth a Return Visit? Boooo. I went with my husband and another couple, and everyone pretty much thought First Friday sucked. We even debated walking over to Fremont. First Friday is tiny now and even more packed. The lure is gone. I think June 5 was officially my last First Friday. YELP 100 CHALLENGE 2015: #123 read more

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Increíble experiencia !! Arte por todos lado, comida y diversión! Me encanto encontrar gente emprendedora y con gran ingenio al promover sus productos. read more

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Amazing food selections and a great street party friendly safe and chill vibe. Pork Slider Boa Buns, Lobster Tots, Elote Hot dog, strawberry churros. The tots are still on my mind. read more

Parking situation is horrendous ... most lots are full and street parking is practically nonexistent. Just know if you do street park, it's the Super Bowl every first Friday for City of Las Vegas parking inspectors. They love finding everyone with expired tags, expired parking etc and WILL fine you very quickly. Overall, an ok experience walking around the actually event area but to those organizing First Friday, please stop charging food truck vendors insane entry fees to be there (I've heard amounts anywhere from $500 to $1000) because they then have to pass that cost onto the consumer and raise their prices. $15 for a milkshake? $9 for a brownie? Comon... what a joke. We live very close by but won't be back to first Friday just due to the sheer chaos in the area and ridiculous prices. read more