Screw it, 5 stars. Because, as a lover of art... this is my favorite. There are SO many things to do at First Fridays and so many opportunities to network and simply chat it up with artists and other art enthusiasts. Parking... we end up parking in our (super secret) street location near the Fremont Experience...since it's FREE .99! I highly suggest finding parking away from the event space and just taking the walk... everyone's on a fitness kick anyhow! The event is actually in the arts district, a little ways away from thr Fremont area... but not a crazy walk. The event is kind of all over the place in terms of vendors and such, but I feel like that's what makes it fun. I noticed karaoke, a canvas that everyone could contribute some art to, live artwork in the process of creation, and interactive traveling drum station, a rock climbing wall... *deep breath* pretty much everything that equates to a lovely Friday evening well spent. Really, you could get lost roaming downtown looking at the street art. It's that much more fun though to participate and interact with the artists. There are also actual galleries that are open and I even noticed a live show going on. I can't recommend this event enough. You can tell that the Vegas art scene isn't at its full potential yet and going to this event every month will allow you to watch it mature every step along the way. Every first Friday of every month. Check it out. Say hey if you see me, I'll be the girl with the wild, bright hair and camera in front of my face. read more

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My first friday experience here was great! I felt that Las Vegas had done a wonderful job making this an experience that everyone can enjoy. There were various live music performances foods and vendors. Not much people were watching the performances which were a little sad, some were quiet good. As for the non food vendors, items could be had for a very good prices. I was pretty impressed with the thriftyness of the art sold there. Now the food trucks were seriously lacking though. There was one avocado taco stand that I would try one day. But honestly you are better off getting something outside and then just walking around. Food was way to expensive, and way to mediocre. If you do find something good, I would say thats a "diamond in the rough". Enjoy! read more

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

Great event to see Art and other artistic things. Always had a fun time going here. Make sure to come early to get parking closeby. Since there hasn't been an event in a long time; i really miss it since it's great supporting small business. The vibe is always great. And beer is always reasonably priced. Whenever I had friends or family visiting I always brought them to First Fridays and we always had a great time. read more

First Friday is an absolutely wonderful experience. I go every month to grab some street food, drink a beer, see the beautiful and diversified art, as well as listen to the bands that play. I highly recommend! FYI: Park at the near by Walgreens. read more

A collection of Art, Music, Food, Drink, and good times.....First Friday is a monthly event held in the Downtown Las Vegas arts district. I'm not sure if you can call it a 'district', but it's the closest thing Vegas has to what outsiders and new residents refer to as 'culture'. The streets are blocked off and food vendors, art vendors, galleries, and music stages pepper the surrounding area......think of a massive block party or small festival. I enjoy coming down here with the family from time to time to check out the scene. It gets really crowded, so it's difficult to really appreciate the art if you're into a more quiet and calm setting like I am. One First Friday I saw a guy smoking inside the Arts Factory gallery.....that's crazy, the smoke can ruin the artwork! Of course, nobody said anything to him.....and when I mentioned it, he gave me a "who the F___ are you?!" look and walked away. *sigh* Some people come to First Friday for the party and not the art.....that's cool, but not really my style. There's a lot of local musicians represented down here and a few stages where they perform.....it's kind of cool to see local bands perform since there aren't too many places in Vegas to listen to them. There's usually a few food trucks and concession stands as well as restaurants down here. We rarely eat at the event though as the lines can get very long and we don't really enjoy our meals when there's nowhere to sit and enjoy the food. Definitely worth a trip if you've never been before though. Some TIPS: - Parking is very difficult to find. There is paid valet parking at the Arts Factory on the corner of Charleston & Main St, but it fills up quickly. Street parking close to the event is sometimes hard to find too.....my recommendation is to get there early or be patient to find a spot. - Wear comfortable shoes. The First Friday event covers a few city blocks, so if you want to get the full experience be prepared to walk. - Bathrooms are a premium. Because of the large crowds, expect long waits at the restroom. The Arts Factory has one, some of the smaller galleries around the area won't let you use their private bathroom....keep that in mind. - If you bring your kids, make sure you keep an eye on them. It's easy to lose them in the crowd and remember that you're on the streets of Downtown Las Vegas.....not a cool place to lose your kid at night. Overall, it's a pretty cool experience if you know what to expect. Return Factor - 80% read more

The biggest complaint about this festival is the parking. But I live downtown, so I usually just ride my bike -- problem solved. But guess what? It's still pretty lame! I know I'm totally gonna sound like a total crotchety hipster here, but...First Friday was much more fun back in the day. Like, even just a few years ago. Nowadays, the whole area is just one big family-friendly clusterfuck of strollers, cops, and creepy kids that have crawled down from the burbs for a night of Hot Topic-clothed teenage mayhem. Like bats, they fly out from their poster-covered caves in those ugly new houses on the edge of town, swooping down on the Arts District to flit about the bright lights, gobbling up whatever passes for art and culture in a desperate attempt to live out the Urban Experience. A rabies shot is definitely recommended before visiting. The addition of the whole "Kids' Zone" was when this shit really jumped the shark. I understand that the true kooks, artists and bohemians NEED the spendy suburbanites to come down -- who else is gonna buy their crap? But it's one of those "be careful what you wish for" scenarios: in order for the suburbanites to feel comfortable, they have to roll out Kids Zones and extra cops to lure 'em down. And that just totally kills the vibe. These days, it feels more like Arts'N'Crafts Day at CostCo than a real, organic arts festival. But who gives a fuck? Not me! Because the Broadacres Swap Meet is now open on Friday nights!! If you want to go someplace TRULY freaky, with weird shit, eccentric people and cheap drinks....forget First Friday; Broadacres is the place to be! Who's with me?? Let's get this movement started!! read more

First Friday is located in the art district near Charleston and 3rd street. You can't miss this giant festival packed with food vendors, promotors, and a variety of trinkets and much more. My favorite tent is Pop's Kabobs! They make gyros, kabobs, and spiraled potatoes covered in cheese/bbq sauce/ketchup/mustard/hot sauce... Whatever you chose! But most of the food here is great and vendors are friendly! People paint in the streets on giant boards for you to view. Stuff here ranges from someone selling clothing to essential oils, jewelry to various other products--- and you can even find people doing weird things for some quick cash. There's plenty to check out an it's every first Friday of each month. read more

What a joke this event is. It's a lot of delusional people calling themselves artists peddling their over priced trinkets on the streets. With the addition of several food trucks sprinkled throughout the various streets it basically makes this event a glamorized swap meet. Wow, how exciting! With so much to do in Vegas I don't understand why this attracts so many people. Try it once if you don't believe me but I'll never go back. Huge disappointment. The good: park at the government center and catch the free shuttles to the event and back. They serve alcohol - you'll need it to trudge through the hour or two you're there. Most of the food trucks have decent food. There are a handful of actual artists who deserve to be paid for their gift. read more

This was my first time at First Friday. Some friends who are much cooler than me asked me to go. We parked at the El Cortez and took the shuttle at the corner of 6th street to the event. It was really easy catching the shuttle. It was not really easy getting a ride back so we just took an $8 cab back to the El Cortez. There were a lot of people. This is some fantastic people watching. We ate some slider truck and H & H BBQ. We had some vodka and redbulls from someone's backyard. We didn't get to check out a lot of the art work because we were too busy eating and drinking. I did see some really cool pieces. I plan on going back next month. Hopefully, I will be able to drag myself away from the food long enough to really check out the music and art. Great, cheap way to spend an evening. read more

Maybe I'm missing something. But this art walk was low on art, high on some piss-poor lunch trucks and snack vendors. I thought it sucked. I was really looking for the art. And the "walk" part of it. It was very small and mostly reminded me of a high school carnival. Was I in the wrong place? I was "carded" when I came in by a kid around 17 who never removed the cigarette from his lips as he spoke to me. We saw some musicians busking, but they were so close together, it was mostly just noise and people running into each other. There were some adults, a handful of older people and couples, but mostly high schoolers in a lot of eyeliner and hoodies wandering around, smoking and saying fuck a lot. I'm no prude -- I've done all those things -- but it just wasn't the environment I was expecting based on the website's description. "...once a month the pedestrian-friendly streets transform into a huge block party during FIRST FRIDAY. Each celebration, the entertainment shifts and multiplies as ice sculptors, fire breathers and fortune tellers serve as a back-drop for this ongoing festival of art perusal and appreciation. Local bands perform throughout the evening, and the streets turn into canvasses for children (young and old) to decorate with chalk. FIRST FRIDAY is a stage for local galleries and Las Vegas' vital Downtown cultural scene. It's a place to meet friends new and old, and rejoice in the preservation and innovation of an historical neighborhood. In this land of suburbs and strip malls, visitors come from near and far to people-watch, sample new restaurants and revel at area bars." Huge was an overstatement. I didn't see one fortune teller, fire breather, ice sculptor, restaurant or bar. I saw a little "art" (a talented cartoonist and some cheesy postcards). I saw a mediocre comedian who seemed out of place. I honestly saw no art galleries. Maybe one, if that Funky House thing on the corner was an art gallery. Where was the "beautiful streetscape" they mentioned? We felt like we just were encased in a little cul-de-sac between some garages and some run-down shops. I love local history, local culture, I love old, I don't mind run-down. But it didn't live up to the hype. I'm convinced we must have been in the wrong place or there was a lot more we didn't see. But we couldn't get past all the teens and there were no signs or information about where to begin or how to get there or where to park or anything. So we just guessed and followed the people... and left after doing one lap and eating a smashed Chipwich. I likely won't be back unless someone can tell me where to be. read more

Boyfriend and I went down to First Friday for the first time to volunteer at a Yelp event. We also walked through a bit and were pretty disappointed. FF is billed as an artsy street fair event. It is less mind-improving, culture-expanding art and more "it's all about the art, maaaaan". We were treated to an almost dead-on, but scary drunk Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator (I guess the drunk is part of the character, but he's a lot less charming when he's not Johnny Depp), a woman dressed as a giant pot leaf and hoards of underage kids smoking and being obnoxious. Oh, and did I mention the 15 year old girls running around with their asses hanging out of their "sexy Santa" costumes? This seems to be a place for "artists" to inflict their "craft" on innocent people and for their "fans" to behave badly. Other volunteers at the event told me that FF used to be a lot cleaner, better organized and actually feature a lot of great art. It sounds like it was a worthwhile community event some years ago, but, based on what I saw, it's high time for FF to be taken out back and shot. read more

I was very excited when my plans opened up and my family and I were able to go to first friday. My excitement didn't last through the entire night. I went to their website, to try and decipher which lot to park in, how the shuttle worked, and blah blah blah. Navigating down town is difficult as it is. We finally found parking, that was close to the event, they charge $10. Wowza. A lot of the artists......came off rude. A lot of them didn't even say "hi" when we walked up to their booth. What a turn off! What would compel me to buy your overpriced "art" when you don't even have a decent personality? When you are looking for something to eat, make sure you walk ALL the way through the event. We settled on the "hummus factory" truck, because we didn't see the other ones, and were slightly disappointed....There were more promising ones across the street. There was some odd show going on. This chick had flaming batons, and was belly dancing to a slipknot sounding song..... Later, a "zombie" came in and it turned into a zombie fire fight. We walked away asking ourselves, "W T F did we just watch?" So, okay food, elementary school looking art, and random music playing. Reminds me more of a swap meet than anything else. I don't know if we will be back. read more

First Friday is a great installment in a city..or at least it's a good concept. Art, culture, food trucks, Downtown; all to create a fun local scene for a Friday night. It's a good concept that I think works for certain cities, but it isn't as successful in Las Vegas. As a patron, It's a fun atmosphere. Walking around, checking out local artists, enjoying "street" food and alcohol, and hanging out with friends and family. Ruben and I enjoyed our visit in September. The weather was still a little warm, but manageable. I grabbed a gyro and Ruben grabbed a beer and we visited a few tent vendors, purchasing some handmade goodies. After walking up and down Casino Center Blvd of vendors, we ventured to the vintage stores on Main Street. Since we weren't in the market to purchase art, there wasn't much else to do. We only spent about two hours. We found parking to be most convenient at the Government Center on Grand Central Parkway (across from the outlet mall). It's easy to access with less traffic, it's free, and most importantly, there's a complimentary First Friday shuttle service that runs every 20 minutes and an hour after the event ends. It was really easy and it drops you off on Main Street near Colorado, one of the event's entrances. For their 11th anniversary last October, I participated as a featured artist. The process of signing up is pretty simple. You submit an application on their official website (the due date is typically a month prior to the event) and you still have the option to accept or decline after receiving the confirmation e-mail/invitation. I highly recommend the Featured Tented Artist set up; you're given a 10x10 space inside a larger tent, a table, grid wall, and lighting that is all set up for you (cost: $100). I had a great time being able to display my photography and hang out, however, it was a pretty boring six hours. I mean, thankfully, my neighbor was also a first-timer and we had a great time chatting with her and her friends. Plus, a few of my friends came to support me, but no one stayed very long. Besides people I knew, there were only a couple handfuls of people that actually stopped at my table. Everyone else just breezed by! It was really disappointing. I know a couple local artists and First Friday works for them (most of the time), but otherwise, it's hard for an artist to be profitable enough to want to return to another event. People seem more interested in getting drunk and finding bargains as if it's a flea market and teenagers are just there to loiter. It's kind of sad and discouraging for artists and patrons. read more

For those who haven't heard, First Friday is no longer an official part of the Downtown Project, it has it's own little non-profit. This has it's pluses and minuses, but here's what I know...I've volunteered several times at FF, and the core group of artists, volunteers, and local folk who come out every month are still solidly behind it. There's still lots of art and creativity and fun things to do. There are still musicians, dancers, fire and flow artists trying out new stuff and practicing their craft. The food has gotten better, the drink was always good, and the social scene is great. As long as people come out and support this event, it will grow and evolve. Stay away, and it'll die...Leaving you to say "Why aren't there cool free things to do for locals, not just tourists?" First Friday. Come on out and support it. read more

Colorful people, colorful artwork, and local craft makers are all on display at this creative Mecca. It was my first First Friday since I moved back to Vegas and how has it grown over the years. I remember the dinky little showings and the few art galleries, but now it has evolved to become a central point of Las Vegas culture. Street performers, bands, and local businesses are all here in this explosion of artistic expression. One of the neatest stands out there was the burse booth. Taking a book and turning it into a bag is a brilliant idea. What is more hipster than to show how much of a scholar you are and rubbing it in everyone's face? Nothing, but as an added bonus, the rebind all the pages of the book so that you can read it. I was impressed with the selections. Nathaniel Hawthorne+, Jane Austen+, Emily Bronte... pushing it, Stephani Meyer... NOW YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR. We got to gift wrap one today for the Yelp event and a few of the Yelpers didn't look like they wanted to give it back. This was only one of the many wonderful local businesses out tonight. If hunger strikes while out wandering, do not fret, many a food trucks are out and the lines are nowhere as ridiculous as the Streats events. read more

Just wanted to update since my last review. I've been to First Friday a couple of times right when it opens. At that point in the night, the crowd isn't too large, the lines aren't too long at the food trucks, and it's mainly a calmer group of people. I just went back this month but got there at about 10:30. It was a whole other ball game. It was packed, garbage was everywhere, there were hundreds of high-school kids that thought they looked cool smoking, I waited a half hour at Slidin' Thru only to be told they were out of nearly everything, a giant fight with dozens of high-schoolers broke out, cops were sprinting down the street after who knows what, helicopters were shining spotlights into the crowd.... Don't get me wrong, I still had fun- I was just much more careful about who was around me and what they were up to. Think of this as the nitty gritty Vegas and you might have a better idea of what to expect. It's not really a festival for the faint of heart. I considered going down a star, but figured it wasn't fair since I have a good time earlier in the evening. If my review was solely based off this last experience, I would probably be singing a different tune right now. Note to the parents of Las Vegas: you need to get your children under control. I seriously could not believe how many high-school aged kids were here smoking, getting into fights, and stumbling around from being drunk. I saw two girls that had to be carried down Charleston by their friends because they couldn't walk on their own. I'm talking 16-year olds. /End rant. read more

I really really wanted to like First Friday and I even waited to post a review about it until I had the chance to experience its competition, the Vegas StrEATS festival held on second saturdays downtown near the El Cortez. The winner, hands down, for me was Vegas StrEATS. As other reviewers have noted, FF is highly unorganized. The crowd is less than desirable to say the least and there doesn't seem to be any sort of mechanism to control which vendors are participating and where they're supposed to be located. There was no method to the madness, only madness. A lot of people were running around screaming (for no apparent reason) and the sheer amount of high, inappropriately dressed teenagers was off-putting. I hope FF pulls it together as it seemingly used to be a great downtown event. read more

I may not ever come back- All I could think of was "It took me a damn hour to find parking" and "I wanna hit someone,anyone." This may be just as big of collection of douchbags as the strip on NYE. I felt sorry for all the artists down there, trying to make a living,when all the people who go there are just there to drink, people watch, and party. I didn't witness one person making a sale, and thievery MUST be incredible to fend off there. To kick off the night, we thought we'd be able to park at the stratosphere and catch the tram,like the website says all over it. The valet was nice enough to come out and inform us otherwise. So we drove down there at about 8,found parking at 9, stayed maybe an hour,wading through a bunch of drunks, and finally left after being way less than impressed. It's a damn good thing it's free, because I WOULD have hit someone after spending money just to get in that mess. read more

Have you ever had the experience where you are hungry for so many hours or days that when you finally eat something, it's the best food ever? Even something as simple as fast food becomes overwhelmingly delicious after a prolonged period of hunger. That's pretty much how I feel about First Friday in Las Vegas. It's art in Vegas and we don't have enough. There's very little public art in this town, but on the first Friday of the month all of a sudden downtown is caught in a flash flood of art, artists and general creative types. The streets have art and the homes that you thought were boarded up open their doors and turn out to be galleries. And it is glorious to let the rushing waves of art sweep you along after so much time in the empty desert. Even though I attend almost every First Friday in Vegas, I can't justify a ranking above three stars. The quality of the artwork is severely lacking in some galleries. And some artists seem to have hung all their work without editing which pieces should be displayed and which ones just aren't good enough. While it's amazing to see this rush of art in Vegas, it's depressing that the art isn't better in a city this big. There are some real gems here and there (Brett Wesley Gallery puts together a solid show each month and there's usually at least one solid show in the Arts Factory), but overall most of the art sits at high school or college freshman level of quality. Don't get me wrong, I'm pro-creativity and pro-creation. We need art. We need more art. We need an artists community. First Friday is a solid first step. But for an area with an estimated population of 1 million in 2010, the quality of the pieces should be a lot better. read more

Call me sourpuss, but First Friday has gone way downhill. I first checked it out about a year and a half ago, and it has significantly shrunk since, not only in size, but also in content. It went from having tons of vendors and artists to basically tons of food trucks, which to me isn't the point, this isn't a food fair. If you absolutely have nothing else to do on a first Friday of the month- sure, come down, buy a beer and walk around a bit, but don't expect to see more than 5-6 booths of art and lots and lots of food. If you can find a clean-ish table to perch your food on, you are a better scout than me. Sad to see an awesome concept dwindle down. read more

First Friday was an Arts Festival, but now it's just a Street Festival that happens to be in the Arts District. While it was fun for a Street Festival, I miss the focus on the Arts & the Artists. Last night was pure chaos... and hardly any Art to be found. Drunks, teens, fights.. sure. Art? Not so much. What I saw last night could have been in Sunset Park just as easily, and with less traffic/parking problems. read more

It was fun! Arts, crafts, music, and FOOD!!! We took the Loop Shuttle from DTLV where we parked. The shuttle ran every 20 - 30 minutes and it was free! Paid $6 to park at Neonopolis. It may be worth it to park closer to First Friday though. Definitely going back! read more

It's funny, a former co-worker told me about this event (several years ago) but I only recently went to the fun-filled event this year- about four times, usually with one friend, but skipped the hot summer months (prone to heat stroke plus some places aren't AC equipped or they don't turn it on). The very first time I went, we missed so much! It's such a wide area to cover- a lot of walking, so I would advise against wearing stilettos, function/comfort over fashion. The last time I went (November 2010), I went with a couple friends, my husband, and his uncle. We split up a few times, (easy to do in a large crowd) but managed to meet up again. As the art is purchased (most of the art is for sale, unless noted otherwise), the exhibits change, and many of the art does rotate- so you may see some of the same pieces, but then again, might not. Every medium is represented (paint, spray paint, photographs, cards, sculpture, etc.), but you will see most of it is paint or drawings. I even saw an artist working on a mandala- neat! There is so much to see- so much talent to discover. I love it. Then again, I have always been into art. It's such an asset to the city of Las Vegas- a free event to be enjoyed by all. Some of the galleries are: Brett Wesley, the Arts Factory, Cob4lt Blu3 Gallery (one of my favorites), City of the World (eclectic collection in this converted single story home), Trifecta Gallery, Southwestern Scenery ((beautiful photographs), Southern Nevada Center of the Arts (another one of my fab, Laura Henkel, Circadian Galleries- but this is just a small mention of what is readily available. The crowd that you will see ranges from the dressed-in-drag Rocky Horror Picture Show, zombies (Halloween), cute little princesses (think Disney, but cuter and shorter dresses), older people (seniors), teens, families- strollers and all, alternative types like tattooed and pierced goth, the 1940s/1950s era rockabilly/pinup types, evangelists, breakdancers, performance artists, free hugs people, vendors, and about everybody else in between. It's definitely great for people watching. I'm originally from San Francisco (The Haight is one of my favorite neighborhoods back home, just to give you an idea of where I am coming from), so I've seen it all before, believe me. Yes, there are some homeless people around, but they don't really bother you. Sometimes they are handing out flyers or t-shirts (bail bonds). Oh and yes, you might smell something other than cigarette smoke if you know what I mean; just a warning (but if you've been to so many concerts like me (35+), you know what to expect at these crowds). Food vendors at the heart of the event include: The Slider Truck, Pizza, BBQ, bottled water. Participating restaurants in the area include: Thai BBQ, Casa Don Juan (on Main Street- more tables are situated on the sidewalk for your convenience), & Naked City Sandwiches (on Las Vegas Blvd.)- I've been to all three places BTW. Live music performances by groups are usually in the center of the event- Colorado Street (this area is blocked off). Sometimes down the way is a rave-like party in the street, or sometimes a band playing at the Gypsy Den. You will see breakdancers (talented group of guys), a hypnotist, and other performers like singers, or a huge drum group ensemble (this was the coolest by far- I love drum beats). Thrift/antique shops include: The Funk House (nice collection of vintage jewelry, I saw so many pretty pieces), Retro Vegas (so cool, it's like seeing what your grandparents or parents had in their homes). For sale, besides art, include: handmade jewelry, greeting cards (Andy Slocum- think "The Far Side" but edgier), buttons (so many people selling), even used tattoo needles (gross- seriously?). FYI: no glass bottles or cans are allowed at this event. If you park at the Clark County government building, you can take a trolley over to the event. Parking can be tricky, if you don't get there early. If you can, donate online at www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org. Will definitely be back, excluding the hot summer months. read more

Meh, used to be better. Crowded, crappy parking, long lines everywhere. A port a potty here and there (nowhere near enough). They should hold this thing every other month or something, take some time to make it more appealing. Tony Hsieh or not, seems to have gone downhill. read more

S'alright. I mean, Vegas is desperate for the arts. It's all controlled by big businesses, and the state grossly lacks the support infrastructure for the arts. So, a lot of people get excited for the art walk. And, it is a nice, little artwalk. It has also grown, and then shrunk, and then grown again. It's one of those walks that you can't enjoy month after month (well, the first friday of every month). Many of the displays and artists do not revolve. However, the art here is definitely of a local Vegas milieu, and you won't find it in another city. It has a long way to go, and hopefully one day it will get there. I wish the city would give it more support, and the planners would be more innovative. read more

I love First Friday. I can't think of anything clever or witty to open this review like I usually do, all I can say is that I love First Friday! First Friday, occurring appropriately on the first friday of every month, is a large community event in the Arts District in downtown Las Vegas. It's an arts festival, local music festival, and street bazaar all rolled into one. Who comes to First Friday? Practically everyone. Scene kids, hipsters, tourists, artists, musicians, you get an overall feel for an entire community at every event. I have seen a trio of people dressed in referee zebra stripes and tight shorts "officiating" a game of ping pong on a artist's table, people dressed as zombies and vampires, a girl with a "free hugs" sign (she was a good hugger!), a guy with a "free hugs" sign to considerably less success than his female counterpart, and just overall original, expressive individuals! It's fun to walk around and go to the building to see the art on display. The people who come here are very friendly and open, so it's easy to start a conversation with people. Be sure to check out which bands are doing shows in the area, the jazz bands in particular are excellent. The Slidin Thru truck often comes here, so you can find good food through them. There are also a ton of street vendors and little shops, and you can find almost anything, including clothing items to unleash your inner hipster. While the downtown area can be scary at nighttime, there are so many people here that you feel safe and secure. But be sure that you always go with a friend. After the event ends around 10, be sure to hit up afterparties at the exceptional (and in my opinion underrated) downtown bars and lounges. My favorite is The Griffin, but that place gets PACKED after First Friday, so you might be better off going to other places. PROS: It's culture in Las Vegas! Ooh, aah! Friendly, unique and sometimes bizarre people The art! Tilt your head while looking at it an appreciate it :) The music! Great afterparty venues! CONS: Parking and navigating in downtown can be tricky. THE VERDICT: If you're a local, you need to go here. If you're a tourist, and you happen to be in Vegas on the first friday of the month, you need to go here. read more

Food trux, art, tons of people! If you enjoy any of these, you will enjoy Vegas' first Friday. I originally came upon FF on my quest to get a Fuku Burger. First thing we hit up was the truck and ion my surprise, found a line up of a bunch of other trucks hanging out in a lot. Squeal!!! There are a ton of artists selling their wares and a multitude of galleries open to the public. There were also many bars open and I even saw some flame throwers. This is Vegas baby! If I happen to be in town during the First Friday of the month, I will definitely come back and enjoy the show. read more

WOW!! What fun! Music, Art, Performance. Unfortunately I ate before meeting my friend to head over, I did not know that there was a line of of crazy, yummy food trucks! Next time I am going HANGRY! Look Out Mr Funnel Cake! Out'ma WAY! So many great local artist here from soap, jewelry and paintings. And NOT EXPENSIVE!! I saw an amazing painting for only $200!!! I could not believe. (No, I did not buy it, but I loved it!) Really Fun, for locals and tourists alike. Then when you are done, hit some of the adorable little local bars all within walking distance! read more

I attended First Friday yesterday on 7/7. This event was pretty fun and something different being it is free to get into. Lots of local art to look at from outside vendors to inside galleries. There was a wide variety of food trucks and other vendors to choose from. Food: My favorite was the mini doughnuts and lobster Mac n cheese. Downfalls: Could of been more seating options kinda hard to walk abound with food and drinks. Drinks were spendy (considering the fremont options) but I still love the option to do so while walking around and eating! I'm excited to go again as I'm sure there is something different each time. read more

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This place is great because Vegas needs art. Just about anyone comes here, from cross dressers to old people, but mostly you get all these kids who do nothing but sit around and pretend they're so cool and edgy. They don't really bother actually going to the art galleries. Speaking of art galleries, there isn't much rotation of artists happening. I've been here several times and it's usually the same group of artists. Granted there are those jewels you find every once in a while. You'll enjoy all the hand made crafts and knick knacks. Finding a parking spot is easy if your early. Bathrooms are a rare sight, some galleries don't allow you to use their private bathrooms. After parties are awesome. read more

We love going here every month because it's fun to see all of the vendors and try out different food trucks. I really wish that they would provide better crowd control and more seating in the food area. One of the vendors was doing a performance in a busy intersection and it created such a traffic issue that I was worried about my niece getting trampled. God forbid something bad happened, it could create such a catastrophe. They should really expand the event somehow to create better flow. It might be better if they divided the trucks up more instead of creating a food alley as well because the lines get so long that they nearly cross the entire street to the opposite vendor sometimes. Now that I am nearly 7 months pregnant it's a lot harder to eat here because there are not enough tables and chairs for everyone either. Usually I don't have a problem sitting on the curb, but it's getting harder for me to get up and down now. Because everything is as overcrowded as it is I may have to start skipping this event until after the baby is here. We've been joking about bringing our own chairs and some tv dinner tables, lol. The kids area is a lot of fun with huge blocks to play with and usually face painting and some other activities. It has an entrance with a security guard, and they will not allow alcohol in the area so it feels pretty safe. I hope this review does not seem too negative. We always have a great time, but I just wanted to point out that the event has some real kinks in it that could be worked out to make it an even better event. read more

Meh.. I remember the good ol days when there was real street art. Then came the food trucks and crap. I like the food trucks don't get me wrong. But some of the "art" is merchandise. Vegas needs to get a clue when it comes to a real art scene.. I know they are trying and i am glad this event exists. But I have seen everyone and their mom trying to cash in on it... Long live downtown. and F you to the posers! read more

Best advice especially if coming with kids- plan ahead parking and eating options. Its very busy and easy to get disoriented in a crowd of 30,000! Dont miss the opportunity to see new things and connect with the Arts Community Downtown. I personally always stay by the 18b area so i can walk around to find special pop up galleries. These are 1 of type showings for First Friday and can even be in private homes! I have also really enjoyed the experience a vendor too. Artists rates are super resonable. Not to miss: Amanda Harris Gallery in Soho lofts Eva Steil (photography usually at Blackbird Studios) Mingo "Green Street" on California & Casino Center read more

I liked it & I'll go again. We went early, parked by 6 pm, and left by 830 probably before the real crowd got there. There is a lot of 'strange' people that come out for this event, so keep that in mind. In my opinion, they just add alittle extra flavor to the already unique and varied people watching. Some of the things you will see here: food trucks, kids playing violins for money, freaks of nature, people dressed up like they are going to the EDC even though it's a Friday night, local art work, costumes, lots of young kids, and people walking their kids and/or dogs. There was a lot of young kids in large groups walking around, dancing, and being loud so it's definitely a kid hang out when this event sets up shop. But if you want to walk around a bit, then dip out and go somewhere else, it's definitely a unique experience. read more

I am very torn about First Friday. I absolutely love community events. Especially art walks, and more creative culture, but this is very lacking. I want to love it because it's in my back yard, too! However, First Friday leaves me with a sense of empty feeling. Located in the arts district downtown should be plenty of reason why this event should boast art, but it doesn't. The art galleries are lacking, and the street vendors that sell art are more there to just get a buck than they are about art. Then there's the riff raff of downtown trying to join in, and so many kids everywhere! I guess police try to crack down on curfew, but there's always so many grungy kids that are up to no good running around. The food stalls are nice during summer hours, winter many vendors decide to stay home. I'll probably end up going back in the summer, but I'll go early before it gets dark, and the crazy kids (literally kids) come out at night. read more

What the Hell, man? I go to you for two years, I'm happy with you (even during that brief period you decided to charge money for entry), and then you go off and step up your game? Growing up in Texas, I often went to the Deep Ellum art district in Dallas for my art fix. While you were close, you weren't quite there. I don't go for few months, and suddenly, there's all of this "new". New galleries, new signage, new entryway, new galleries, new, new, new, new, new.... It all started when I walked by this nearby bail bonds place where there was a DJ, a pole dancer, and they were serving free street tacos. A bail bonds place does this. Seriously? How could my night start any better? I LOVE the new entryway near the Arts Factory, with the lights that turn on when you step on them (yes, I did stop to make a point and recreate Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" video, thank you very much). There were more galleries, great artists, something about the music, the vibe.... I don't know what happened, but this place, got bigger, better, more involved, and more Bohemian. I felt like I was back in the 1990's in my early 20's, and it was quite possibly the coolest feeling ever. Everything that could have possibly "clicked" did, and then some. Note to First Friday planners: What you did for May, keep it. Don't change it, just build upon it. You found "it", and you represented it so well. I've been to First Friday for two years now, and I've never seen it shine more than I did for May. Now my only regret is that it's only one time a month. I'm speechless, but happy. THIS was an art scene that I found tonight. Hells to the yes. read more

We came here during the burning show girl event. We wrongfully assumed that First Friday took place on Fremont St so we had cab it to the Art District. We got there in time for the event but was a bit disappointed that the replica didn't even look like a show girl ! I was imagining that scene from the old 80's movie "The Legend of Billy Jean where they burn a big replica of Billie Jean with Pat Benatar singing in the back round "We will be invincible". My imagination was fizzled when I saw the big heap of wood. People were getting antsy waiting for it to burn ...they kept chanting "The roof ...the roof is on fire ...we don't need no water let the motherf%#@er burn! When it finally burned it was okay. This event is mainly for adults and teens I didn't see too many little kids. I don't think it would be a good idea to bring little kids here because there are a lot of drunk people stumbling around. If you want to blend in don't wear bright yellow like me. Practically everyone was wearing black except for other people wearing wedding dreses, antlers and stuff. I enjoyed going into the houses that were set up as mini art galleries . There is a lot of talented artists in Vegas and it's nice to know that they have a place to display their work. First Friday kind of reminds me of the weekly street fair they have in Palm Springs minus the family friendly vibe. I think this can grow into something great with time and community support! read more

This past month I finally got to go to First Friday with friends. First I have to admit it is so not what I expected because I was kind of expecting a huge craft fair. But when I arrived I was pleasantly surprised. To see the Downtown art district lit up with food trucks, live music, and artist was truly a site to see. Additionally, the event was a lot larger than I expected by far. Some of the coolest parts of the evening included touring the art district Galleries which includes some pretty cute clothing shop as well. The craft booth varied widely (some good... some not so good.) Personally, I had a great time and will be back (when the weather warms back up.) read more

First Friday is one of my favorite Vegas activities. I've been attending on and off for about two years now and can say it has evolved a bit over that time. I've heard it was shut down for a bit as there was some issues over who ran things but glad to see it's back. For those who haven't been there are two locations; one near Fremont St and another near Charleston & Main, I prefer the latter. Once can usually find parking near 4th and Colorado. Walk west to the Colorado and Casino Center intersection then go north and enjoy the festivities. You could say there is something for everyone, everyone who appreciates good eats, interesting arts, and libations that is. The food trucks and art vendors rotate out, there are some regulars. I'm too lazy to go into detail on everything there, besides it would ruin the surprise. You should go and check it out yourself! Safety notes: lot's of people there, while Metro is always out in force and I've never had a problem I'm sure there are pickpockets and other undesirables looking for an easy score, don't enjoy too many good beers and watch out! read more

Went to First Friday last night after listening to the ads for five years about the arts and street vendors. There is no where to park that's not semi-dangerous. We were approached by two crackheads wanting payment for different places to park. Looks like you have parking for 20 cars. There were no art vendors and no food vendors. However, we did go in and look at a couple of antique stores that were open. But most are closed. No where to buy drinks either. After not finding anywhere to eat or drink. We left and went home. The rest of the city closes at 900. So we missed dinner. All in all left this art customer bored and hungry. Most of what we smelled was pot. I don't care but everyone has no smoking signs up, that should include pot. I didn't know it was legal to walk around outside and smoke pot. Also there were guys in camo walking around with side arms. No security badges, no stitched lettering. There was two or three bands playing but they weren't very good so just sounded like noise. I love live music. Not music. I would not recommend. Negative stars read more