I love the the opportunity granted to local artists. The event runs from 1st street to 7th street. It's a fun way to get your steps in! The vendors are all along the main road of Roosevelt, as well as the side roads. There's food music, beverage, art, and more! I love it. Parking can be a pain, so I advise you to ride share or expect to pay for parking. read more

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Very crowded with a lot of kids. Hard to see any booths. Many of the shops were not open or no longer there. The art museum was nice but won't return to the streets portion again. Unfortunate because it used to be so filled with different artist and unique people. read more

So much fun for the whole family! I love seeing all the vendors and walking around. It's packed but a wonderful experience

So much fun, lots of vendors. I did end up wasting money on bad food but I had a good time, will definitely go again next month.

The November 7, 2025 event will be the last one I'll attend until I hear this has been re-conceived. It was an unorganized mob, a clash of flea market vendors and third-rate food trucks. This was advertised as a vegan event, and the food trucks have learned they can sell anything with the v-word displayed. In addition there were badly-amplified amateur musicians producing a cacophonic sideshow and endless screaming religious hawkers every 10 feet. Parking is a nightmare; we parked easily a mile from the event zone, the traffic so dense we had to u-turn and bumper-to-bumper for easily 30 minutes. Who oversees this? They need a course in public event production. read more

I've been doing First Fridays for many many years now. It has really grown in that time and makes for a fun free evening out. The community aspect of it is my favorite part. First Fridays is mostly centered around Roosevelt Row. But it also incorporates the areas surrounding the Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum and several of the smaller museums. There are musicians, food trucks, vendors selling local arts and crafts, and street performers up and down Roosevelt Row. It is a great way to take in the city's culture and creativity. I usually like to start with the Phoenix Art Museum. It is free and open to the public for a few hours. Then I head down to Roosevelt Row and walk through the vendor booths. We also like to watch the street performances along the way. There are maps provided at some locations or online that show some of the best places to go. First Fridays can get quite crowed, especially during the cooler seasons when it is not as hot out. But the city of Phoenix and the local police have done a good job with trying to keep the traffic flow moving and under control. If crowds aren't your thing, there are plenty of less crowded areas outside of Roosevelt Row you can head to. If you love art, creativity, and people watching, First Fridays is a great place to come to for a night on the town. Kids and pets are welcome too. read more

Phoenix First Fridays - Vendors - Festivals Near Me

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Live it more now starting October nice drum circle different musicians bands outside food and drink expedites and of course lovely diverse crowd read more

YIKES! So crowded, weed everywhere, young teens-20-something's trying to parkour off everything including stop signs. Folks on the street corners with mics protesting for Jesus. It was sensory overload for me personally, in the worst way. I just wanted to get away. Only reason I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 is because there was such a wide variety of local vendors and they had super cute stuff and many are very talented. Like a huge night market/craft show rather than an art walk, as it is marketed. read more

Phoenix First Fridays - Festivals Near Me

Have not been to First Fridays along the Roosevelt Row for about 10 years. Hardly recognized the area and venue. Nicely built up with bars, restaurants, residential and lots of art and entertainment venues. Four block area is closed to traffic and one huge street fair. You can easily spend an evening walking around enjoying the music, food fare, shops and artisan tents that align the streets. Stopped by the Nash Jazz Club. No cover charge on First Friday, what a treat. Enjoyed the music set and old school jazz club vibe. Free parking at the public library if you don't mind walking. Great outdoor venue and I will definitely be back. read more

It's been a few years since I've been out to first Friday. We took the fam down to check it out and get some Hot Daisy pizza. There is lots of music, art, vendors selling handmade goods and food! It was packed and lots of people out and about. Definitely check it out if you have never been. Now the weather is cooler we will try to make it our monthly. read more

My favorite part of First Friday in Downtown Phoenix! Its a foodies dream, so many delicious & yummy options you really can't find just anywhere read more

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One of the best gems about Phoenix Arizona are First Fridays. I paid a visit to the event this past Friday and I will say that it was super crowded. I assume because it's because of the change of that cooler weather. For sure be prepared for this event. Bring walking shoes, cash, and maybe a tote bag to carry all your things. There are various vendors, and so many food options. Lots of respect to those selling on First Fridays with those huge crowds of people. The event also has lots of culture with live music. Each month is a bit different; however, I always enjoy coming to this event. Plus side is that the streets are blocked away from traffic so people can walk in area feeling safe. read more

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The weather was really nice last Friday and the crowd was really great. Disclaimer I don't know who the kid is. He did steal the show lol. read more

Phoenix First Fridays - Michael Jackson impersonator - Festivals Near Me

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Been going to First Fridays a few times. My date and I were dumbfounded that there were absolutely no Port-a-potties or restroom facilities anywhere. We were looking for about 40 minutes. I talked to multiple patrons they did not know where to find the facilities. Finally we asked a security guard he he told us there were no facilities and go to the Cheba Hut We had to cross a busy 7th Street . Hopefully things will change or we will not be coming back. read more

A fun and free event!! It was cool that they shut down some streets so it's safe to walk through the streets without it being unsafe. A bunch of local vendors for food and shopping. I noticed a lot of the businesses stayed open too for the event even though they should have been closed. I had dinner at Wilderness while I people watched and then checked out the vendors afterwards. Def worth checking out if you've never been! read more

I was in town for the weekend and asked one of our servers what there is to do and coincidentally it was the first Friday of the month so he mentioned this event that apparently happens every first Friday. We hopped in our rental car and drove off in the direction it was a bit of a cooler night, nevertheless the streets were packed with people. Parking can be challenging so find a spot fairly close and walk! There were food, vendors, small business owner vendors with lots of interesting items. A lot of them handmade., there was music & people dressed up in unique outfits gallivanting around the streets. Just all around fun. I'd recommend going for sure. read more

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Whenever I take a business trip to Phoenix, I can't wait to fly out as soon as my last meeting is done, but since I've been making more trips there lately, I decided I should really see what Phoenix has to offer. Usually I take a late afternoon flight on Friday to get home, but this time, I decided to stick around until late Saturday afternoon and even made a reservation for a walking tour at Taliesin West. In between, I didn't know what to do on a Friday evening until fate reared its head and informed me that First Friday was happening downtown. Luckily I was within walking distance from my hotel, so I strolled up to Roosevelt Row to see what the buzz was about. It reminded me a lot of Oakland's Art Murmur which also happens on the first Friday evening every month. It's a hodgepodge of art venues, food stands, and random performances by musicians, actors and politically motivated demonstrators that comes across as the dark, adult-oriented underbelly of an amusement park. Activities start slowly at 6PM with the event's momentum certainly taking its sweet time to gather. Like me, you may end up standing around and wondering whether you should go home by 7PM. For instance, I waited a half-hour for a show to start on a ramshackle musical stage. Didn't happen. Still, the art galleries are worth perusing for some nice pieces and other pieces that belong in a dark box in a flea market like the Munsters family portrait (photo: http://bit.ly/2x1aHvg). There is food to consider and head shops, plenty of head shops, but nothing that brought the whole event home for me. It was 9PM so time to stroll back to the hotel, I guess. read more

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In the world of anything goes and everything is okay and acceptable First Fridays is the place to be. You will probably be apprehended by someone wanting you to be vegan, against abortion and fur. The food truck lines are normally very long but it's a good time to watch people and sometimes more interesting to just stand there and listen to the conversation of the people in front of you. Yep, I said it out loud. :) If you like to get high from weed and don't have any make sure to inhale deeply as you're walking around and you'll be buzzed pretty soon. If you don't want a buzz, hold your breath, walk on through the crowd and you'll be fine. At the entrance to Linear apartments there are normally some free style dancers that are fun to watch. If you're looking for some really cool skulls there is always a guy selling them here. Many other misc handmade things as well. The glassblower always draws a crowd. AZ Wilderness has a large patio if you want to hang out there by the fire pit, play Cornhole or just relax and have a drink. PAZ, The Churchill, Trapp House and Taco Chelo are restaurants right there in the thick of things if you don't want food truck foods. It's pretty loud, really crowded and you will have as much fun as you choose to have. If you haven't been and are thinking about it I think you should go at least once for the experience. Please DO NOT take your children! This is not a children's festival and that includes infants. read more

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What happened to this event? I used to love it - mainly artists/craftsmen and you could tell it was juried. Now it seems anyone can be a vendor so mostly junk being sold. Also the crowd has changed from all ages to a much younger crowd the majority of which are drunk or stoned. Last night was it for me when the trio of guys in front of me stopped and one peed on the sidewalk. read more

Your inner artist has been dyeing to get out! Explore some of the most eclectic venues, galleries, and spaces that downtown Phoenix has to offer. Everyone knows the heart of the Phoenix First Friday experience happens around Roosevelt and 5th street, but feel free to check out many of the surrounding business' who get in on the action too. Places like Civic Space Park and Crescent Ballroom, or Bliss /ReBAR and Turf Irish Pub. Savvy Yelpers know to park somewhere along Portland street and 5th street - just north of where all the action happens; although any parking close to Roosevelt between 2nd and 7th street will get you close to the action. Don't forget that metered spots in downtown are free after 5pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. The super savvy just grab a Light Rail ride, hop off at the Roosevelt stop, and head east by foot. It's fun to hang around people watching, stop in for a coffee or a crepe at JoBot coffee shop, or stop by one of the public exhibitions of live music happenings you can usually find. I wouldn't be surprised to find an impromptu drum circle in the makings, or a home baker selling their delightful cupcakes and goodies for a few bucks and a high five! Heck, they'll even sell you two for a couple more bucks and two high fives. Tour the many individual galleries and wait for your mind to be melted by some of the most fantastic and off the wall pieces you'll see; most pieces done by local artists. It's ok to just go and look, they really don't mind. In fact, I haven't spent a dime on a piece of art during my few ventures to FF, but I have spent plenty of dimes on everything else that's happening. Cruise over to the normally vacant lot on Roose between 4th and 5th street to find yourself in a space that gets transformed into a food truck and trinket vendor's paradise. Taco's, check. Hot Dogs, check. Burger, check. Coffee, check. I think you get the picture. Don't forget your comfy shoes, bring your friends, and have fun! Honestly, what else are you going to do on a Friday night in Phoenix? See a movie or go clubbing? Happy Yelping Phoenix, I'll see you at First Friday's! read more

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Any Yelper worth their salt knows First Fridays were way cooler when traffic on Roosevelt was closed off, and galleries moonlighting as venues like Modified Arts were in their prime. Gone are the days of actual art walks and modest, intimate live music. The novelty of urban culture and postmodern sophistication as a break from suburban strip malls has been diluted into a hollow, passive existence. Why spend your evening in a restaurant with 'gourmet' food trucks at your disposal? Why engage professional art when you can just watch some brat from Art Institute attempt to justify their $80,000 in tuition? But even as the quality of art and music wanes, such as the mellow timbre of a trumpet to the wooooob wooooob of dubstep, I feel First Friday has some redeeming factors that people who aren't familiar with the CenPho scene should check out. Scottsdale snobs are parking their Porsche and riding the rail. Bros in Metal Mulisha tees stop shotgunning Keystone and pick up craft beers with curiosity. First Friday funnels activity from what are normally more happening roads than Roosevelt, and channels it into a crowd brimming with interest and creative energy. Local businesses are making BANK (super important), and I hope the trend continues until all the bustling is a typical weekend. First Friday is still a-ok with me. Come with an open mind, and get ready for an adventure! read more

Fun First Friday in Phoenix downtown. Lots to eat, see, shop and wander. Come and listen, participate and enjoy. read more

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My family and I enjoyed ourselves at First Friday. We snagged free parking @ 6pm, and walked towards the festivities. We started at Roosevelt and Central and followed the crowd towards 7th. There were lots of talented local artists with tents and/or tables set up, selling their jewelry, crafts, and fine arts. There were a handful of food trucks in the area where we were, including 2 fry bread trucks, and lots of cheese-themed trucks. As a vegan, there wasn't a lot for me (sad face) but I did enjoy a huge pile of curly fries from one of the trucks (whose name escapes me). There were several street musicians and magicians (e.g. the dudes doing the hypnosis... No thanks! lol). We thoroughly enjoyed the band, Color 8, so much so that we stayed about an hour watching them. A special shout out and thank you to the Phoenix PD. They were out there in full force, enforcing traffic laws, making sure both pedestrians and motorist obeyed those laws, keeping everyone safe. read more

Gotta love first Fridays!! The people watching, options for food, entertainment and art. Everything is fine and dandy, except for the guy on the photo loaded, his lack of respect. Please don't act like you have a stick up your behind for creating some "art". Be modest trick! Be modest and show some respect. :) read more

I love first Fridays in Phoenix...free admission to the museums , open art gallaries, all sorts of musicians, street performers, vendors, and food trucks along with a ton of people ! Great community event in downtown Phoenix. This past Friday there was even a hypnotist hypnotizing people on the streets. My favorite food stand is LuLus...its an all natural non dairy frozen yumminess.....great for these warm nights walking around here. read more

Phoenix First Fridays - A band playing in one of the alleys... - Festivals Near Me

So fun and a ton to see! I've been twice now and Roosevelt Street is definitely the most jumping area with great people watching, areas to walk around, street performers, and open galleries. There is a section with food trucks and art booths too. The second time I attended I parked at Heard Museum and took the free trolley to Roosevelt. It was cool to see all the stops along the route -- but it took longer than expected. I didn't hit any of the smaller stops but I'm looking forward to checking out some of the smaller galleries next time. Also, if you're taking the trolley, be sure to keep track of the time because the last pickup is at 9:30pm even though the event doesn't end until 10pm. My recommendation is to arrive early (around 5:30) so you avoid traffic, get good parking and have ample time to explore. Also, there's no way you can check out all the spots in one evening so pick 1-2 small galleries or large museums during one visit and stick to exploring Roosevelt, which will easily keep you entertained all evening, on another visit. read more

It was quite a turnout on Friday at Downtown phoenix. Lots of people and a number of food trucks from wood fire pizza places to burger joints to grilled cheese trucks and variety hot dog stands. My favorite was by Chi-town dogz serving scrumptious veggie hot dogs. Add a bit of ghost pepper sauce and man you got one HOT dog (pun intended) ;) If you want more info on the veggie dog stand schedule then hit up Stewart Meadows on Facebook to connect. It's a shame that it ended early -- would have been great to hit up those trucks late night! Until next first Friday...cheers! read more

Phoenix First Fridays - Awesome Veggie dogs -- very tasty! Add Stewart Meadows on fb to get his schedule! - Festivals Near Me

This event is like the ultimate bloc-party; hippie mystics and tarot card readers, beatnik poets, b-boys, musicians of every genere, artists, vegan protestors, hipsters, graf writers, food trucks, spoken word gospel, light shows, dogs, baby strollers, recalcitrants, and of course of the Phoenix PD. After having lived in The Valley for seven years I finally decided it was time to experience this event. Took the light rail in from Mesa, got off at the Central and Roosevelt station and walked east to the show - one of the great things about this is the ability to take the light rail in and not have to worry about traffic or parking. I had an unencumbered expectation of the experience and I was blown away by just how rad this is! Galleries are open, food trucks are in abundance, musical performers are posted up on the sidewalk every couple of feet, artists have their goods for sale on every side street off Roosevelt, and the list goes on. Great places to eat are abound and people watching is inevitable. Truly one of the greater things the City of Phoenix puts on and a remarkable cerebral experience. Do go, do enjoy, and do return. read more

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I was not impressed. The street was blocked off but they don't let you walk in the street. The food vendors were so packed and didn't look hygienic. There was too many political and religious petitioners. I did not have a nice experience and don't recommend for people to take their children. Many of the sights and sounds were not child friendly read more

Lively, fun, funky, artsy! A few words to describe this monthly event. A refreshing look at what downtown Phoenix is becoming! read more

Phoenix First Fridays - Festivals Near Me

I feel like Artlink's First Fridays are often misinterpreted. Its true that for most of the life of First Fridays, Roosevelt Street has been the main hub of the First Friday arts scene. But overtime, Roosevelt Street has undergone a transition. These days you can still find some of the iconic art galleries that have dotted Roosevelt since the start. Additionally you'll find an exploding culinary scene on Roosevelt with new restaurant concepts bumping up next to dining spots that were among the first to take a chance on the neighborhood. And of course you'll still find all the street performers, random vendors selling a variety of products, and the occasional act of anarchy by protesters and those just looking to be different. Its all part of the charm of First Fridays. That said, there have been changes in the last five years. For the record, First Fridays has never been an event confined to just Roosevelt Street. Every First Friday of the month, art galleries and performing arts venues all over Downtown Phoenix open their doors to showcase their stuff. Grant Street in south Downtown has always had a number of studios and galleries to see. Hance Park is surrounded by numerous museums, galleries, and performing arts venues. And lately the section of Downtown seeing the biggest explosion of art venues is Grand Avenue. In fact many of the galleries and venues that used to line Roosevelt Street have now made their home on Grand. Its true that Roosevelt Street has become more gentrified (particularly over the last five years) and thus there are fewer spaces where the arts community can afford. This is an ongoing battle that isn't going away, but for now there are still plenty of venues, vendors, and volumes upon volumes of people that crowd the streets and sidewalks of Roosevelt Street every first Friday of the month. The MonOrchid is still here, The Nash is still here, Modified Arts is still here, Eye Lounge is still here, Made is still here, and many others. In addition new venues and restaurants like Sutra, DeSoto Central Market, The Dressing Room, FEZ, SoSoba, Ike's Sandwiches, and others have been added to the neighborhood. Other great spaces worth checking out during First Fridays away from Roosevelt Street include the Phoenix Art Museum, The Olney Gallery at the Trinity Cathedral, Grand ArtHaus, Grant Street Studios, The Hive, The Heard Museum, Trunk Space, and Bentley Projects. Restaurants and bars like ThirdSpace, Grand Avenue Pizza, Bikini Lounge, Cobra Arcade, Crescent Ballroom, and Valley Bar are great options for food, drink, and often live music as well. No matter which of the three main First Friday sectors of Downtown you choose, you simply can't come down here on a First Friday and not find an open venue to take in. So yeah, Roosevelt Street is different now than it was five years ago. But so are Grant Street and Grand Avenue. The arts, music, and dining scenes have shifted with the times, but the crowds still come. They come for the people watching, they come for the art, they come for the music, they come for the restaurants and food trucks, the come for the shopping, and more often than not they come just out of curiosity. Had it not been for some of my early experiences with First Friday and the fun times I had all those years ago, I likely wouldn't be here writing this review as a full time Downtown Phoenix resident. The impact and the energy that First Fridays have brought Downtown can't be understated. It's now an institution and will remain that way, even with all the changes happening in the neighborhood. The thousands of people that continue to line the streets every First Friday of the month will make sure of it. read more

There is just so much too see every time I come here. I don't make it for every first Friday because of work but my last visit here I took some shots of the incredible touch lights that they had for sale. We ended up purchasing one from the very lovely informative couple that was selling these as a birthday gift for our friends girlfriend :) read more

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One of my absolute favorite hobbies is people watching followed closely by enjoying the creativity of others (as well as indulging my own creative side). First Friday's is the best of both of those 2 personal favorites. [3rd Friday's are still my favorite for gallery explorations.] There are people galore especially when the weather is nice. I either love going early (before 8p) or after 9:30/10 [things close up around midnight]. Between those times even for me the people watcher, there can be too many people to really enjoy the scene. There are several galleries, warehouse art and performance spaces and impromptu pop-up entertainers through downtown Phoenix. Mostly centered around Roosevelt St, between 7th St and Central it also extends to several locations within a 2 mile radius (several areas on Grand Ave). Several of the historic homes and buildings in the Roosevelt area spring to life with galleries, vintage clothing, bookstores, bars and restaurants. Several lots host food trucks and craft vendors. So much to look at and explore. You never know what you will find. read more

Made it to my first Phoenix Friday and was not disappointed. There were plenty of street artists, dancers, musicians to be entertained. There's many vendors and food trucks as well. We were lucky and found a bar with outdoor seating where we could grab a bite and a beer and people watch. Good vibes for a great time. read more

I have a love-hate relationship with the current state First Friday, specifically the Roosevelt Row leg: Where are the galleries?!? When I first started attending FF almost a decade ago, the Row was full of galleries to the point where it was a challenge to get through all of them. Today, not so much. Gentrification, they say. While the sheer volume of people this night pulls out, I've grown restless of wandering around to the few places exhibiting artwork. So, next time it'll be back to Grand. read more

If your looking for a way to explore some of the downtown art exhibits, First Friday is a great way to enjoy it. On the first Friday of each month the area around Roosevelt and between Central and 5th street closes and the art galleries open their doors for all to peruse their featured artist. Throw in some street vendors with almost every type of jewelry, t-shirt and clothes you could imagine. Add in some food trucks, mix and enjoy some great art! Plan on getting there early so you can find a place to park. read more

Forget the art - find the food(trucks)! This has gone downhill while the food truck dining has gone uphill. Several years ago, I felt this FF experience was much better than it is today. However, now I go with eating as the priority. I enjoy finding the food trucks and experiencing new flavor and bites of the evening. My favorite so far - Jamburritos! This is kid-friendly but keep an eye on your wandering kiddos as there are a lot of people, several items to "play" with at vendor booths and a crowded scene. read more

So many different vendors, artists, snacks. And, since the last time I went, there's now a designated area for the food vendors which makes it very convenient for deciding what to eat and seeing everything at once. I bought some art the last time I went. It was from an artist that makes art out of used tin cans from the food he prepares and serves to homeless people. So great. I like that Roosevelt is monitored with police crossing guards. And it's fenced off so people don't jaywalk and hold up traffic. Nice to have that so traffic can still get through. It's good Phoenix moved their parking meters back to normal 8-5 M-F so you don't have to pay at the meters for night time things like First Friday. I had Q Up! BBQ. Some of the best BBQ in the area. They won a contest held in Las Vegas this year (2013). Well deserved. I had the sampler platter. Price was more than I wanted, but the food and serving amount was just right for the cost. There are too many teens and pre-teens there these days that just loiter and don't really buy anything except food. The police presence is nice though, no need to worry about vagrants and gang banger wannabes there. read more

First Friday is one of the main reasons I recently moved downtown. I love the crowd, the live music, the street vendors and of course the art. I saw a band called The Heathers, while it was all covers they actually gave me chills. read more

Fun times when I come he first Friday of the month. Great food, vendors and artists show up. It's also fun to people watch. Fun atmosphere, without question. read more

Phoenix First Fridays - Awesome - Festivals Near Me