First Friday Las Vegas Celebrates 10 Years of Art and Community!
The monthly arts and culture festival celebrates its 10th Anniversary, invites the public to help break 10 world records involving pumpkins, and announces the formation of the First Friday Foundation to support local artists
The First Friday Las Vegas arts and culture festival continues to evolve and draw huge crowds from around the valley and beyond for a night of art, music, food and more. This month, First Friday is celebrating 10 years of art and community in Downtown Las Vegas. With the theme of 10, this anniversary event will be full of exciting activities.
In the Kids Zone, the public will be invited to help break 10 world records involving pumpkins in a single day! The second annual ‘Pumpkins Mean Business’ pumpkin decorating competition will be a sure hit with great prizes for the top 10 entries. Be sure to visit THE HUB – First Friday’s newest meet-up point and central hang-out on Casino Center and Colorado. Inside THE HUB you’ll find places to sit and chill, interesting art exhibits, music and poetry readings, and more.
In the midst of this 10 year celebration the First Friday Foundation will be born. The Foundation will be a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing local artists and inspiring civic art in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for upcoming details and opportunities to get involved.
Thursday, October 4th:
9 a.m. – 9 p.m. First Friday is teaming up with RecordSetter to break 10 world records involving pumpkins in a single day. Take part in one of the planned record attempts or bring a pumpkin record breaking idea of your own and have officials on site to document it! Bring your family by the Kids Zone at 1213 Casino Center anytime on Thursday and receive a free pumpkin to carve and decorate on-site and then take home with you. Carving and decorating materials, snacks and beverages will be provided for participants.
The next First Friday event takes place Friday, October 5, 2012 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.
FIRST FRIDAY LAS VEGAS HIGHLIGHTS:
ARTS DISTRICT
Location: Casino Center and Colorado Ave.
Art Style: Emerging and established artists, arts, crafts
Activities:
5 p.m. – 10 p.m. First Friday Las Vegas showcases 65+ artists, 10 live bands and DJ’s on three stages, 25+ food trucks and more.
5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The Kids Zone will be bustling with family activity and pumpkin madness. Local businesses will be invited to participate in the second annual ‘Pumpkins Mean Business’ decorating competition with judging at 8:30 p.m. and prizes including a First Friday skinned iPad. Stay tuned to the First Friday Facebook page for upcoming details. The exotic animal petting zoo will be back with furry friends educating families about the natural habitats of these animals.
DOWN 3RD
Location: Imperial and 3rd Street
Activities:
5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
The delicious food provided by Las Vegas’ best food trucks can now be found on Third Street between Colorado and Imperial. Stop by the bar located on 3rd and Colorado for specialty cocktails.
Also Down 3rd be sure to catch the second annual Zombie & Cosplay Red Carpet walk to kick off the Pollygrind Film Festival at Theatre7.
FREMONT STREET EAST
Location: Get Back Alley located just south of Fremont Street between 6th and Las Vegas Blvd.
Art Style: Street and Interactive Art
Activities: Deriving its name from the long-running and hugely successful DJ funk and soul dance party held every First Friday, Get Back Alley showcases street art and interactive art to Fremont Street East.
This area will include art, music and free painting lessons provided by Social Paintbrush. Two free painting classes will take place 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
6 p.m. until 11 p.m.
PARKING/SHUTTLES:
Shuttle service will run from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m.
Four Open Top Sightseeing Shuttles and an additional handicap equipped shuttle will make a constant loop around the entire event route.
For Handicap Transportation to event, please call: 702-739-7990
There will be ample free parking as well as $5 parking lots.*
*If you park in unauthorized parking areas, you may be subject to towing.
Fremont Route Shuttle Stops:
* El Cortez- pick up and drop off in front of Get Back Alley event
* Golden Nugget lobby doors just south of Rush Tower
* Arts District Hub at Colorado and Main
Government Center Route Shuttle Stops:
* Government Center at Rotunda Gallery
* Arts District Hub at Colorado and Main
Additional free parking at City Hall Garage at Stewart and Las Vegas Blvd. (must walk to Fremont shuttle stops)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
For more information on First Friday Las Vegas, please check back on the website www.firstfridaylasvegas.com or on the facebook page www.facebook.com/firstfridaylasvegas.
ABOUT FIRST FRIDAY LAS VEGAS
First Friday Las Vegas has been a mainstay of arts and culture in downtown Las Vegas for ten years. In 2011, just shy of the October nine year anniversary, the arts and culture festival welcomed a new ownership group, First Friday Las Vegas, LLC, comprised of Zappos.com executives Tony Hsieh, Fred Mossler and Steve Hill, as well as downtown developer Andrew Donner and executive producer Joey Vanas. The outdoor event features several areas throughout Downtown Las Vegas that showcase artists of all calibers and genres, supplementing with live music, food and other celebratory events.