The First Friday Art Walk Returns to Downtown Las Vegas

Downtown Las Vegas is on the rise in a big way. There’s talk of a public transportation light rail that will better connect tourists and locals to downtown, the Strip and beyond. Tourism for Downtown Las Vegas is up and in the green. Now with the return of the First Friday Art Walk, there’s no reason not to explore downtown to discover its art, food and unique hotels near Fremont Street.

The First Friday Art Walk went dark in October due to funding, but has evolved to a non-profit that’s coming back swinging. The goal is to downsize the festival, which they hope will invite the community to engage, instead of being just another big event to find free parking for.

“The idea is to shrink down the amount of area that we actually permit and produce,” says Joey Vanas, Executive Director of the First Friday Foundation. “The heavy lifting costs come in when you start closing several blocks of streets and running power grids for hundreds of feet in every direction and more power and cables and generators, et cetera. If there are things happening all around, but the responsibility isn’t all on the First Friday organization to pay for everything and to produce everything, then it becomes a more sustainable model,” Vanas says.

Founder of First Friday Cindy Funkhouser agrees that the footprint First Friday makes should be “downsized” in order to at least break even cost wise. Nonetheless, the most important part of First Friday’s return and ultimate success will be the community’s participation and support.

Anyone is welcome to First Friday, whether to submit art, volunteer, or simply come to see the artwork of local Las Vegas artists. If you are traveling to Las Vegas and happen to be in town on the first friday of the month, join the community in supporting the arts.

Need a place to crash after the delicious street vendor food, awesome art and sightseeing of downtown? Oasis at Gold Spike has one-of-a-kind rooms, and with a hotel near Fremont Street, you’re sure to stay connected to the sights, sounds and tastes of Downtown Las Vegas. Check out our rooms and book for next First Friday.