First Friday Art Walk: Your Guide to Experiencing Downtown Phoenix's Premier Arts Event

Downtown Phoenix is home to a thriving arts scene. From small stages and galleries to boutiques and murals, there’s no shortage of creative expression — no matter when you visit.

And while you can experience the buzz of this scene at seasonal happenings that range from culinary and music festivals to pop-up markets of every variety, there is one event that is not only among the best things to do in Phoenix for visitors, but it’s also a rite of passage for locals: First Friday Art Walk is the ultimate way to experience this city’s culture, arts, flavor, and overall vibe.

Here’s our insider information with everything you need to know ahead of the next First Friday in Phoenix.

What To Expect

Originally founded and organized by Artlink , a nonprofit organization launched in the mid-90s, the First Friday Art Walk started out with just a handful of participants. Today, it’s a free, all-ages event that draws thousands of attendees spread out across dozens of city blocks and nearly 100 businesses.

At the center of this monthly event — which continues to evolve and grow as a signature downtown attraction — is the vitality and diversity of the city’s urban arts community, which showcases a multicultural range of creativity and artistic expression that appeals to art enthusiasts of every medium and flavor.

Aptly named, this event invites vendors, musicians, and artists of all varieties out into the streets (many of which are closed off to traffic) for an evening where the essence of downtown Phoenix’s arts and culture can be seen, felt, heard, and tasted throughout more than 70 galleries, venues, art-related spaces, and surrounding bars, restaurants and food trucks.

When To Go

First Friday festivities technically take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Depending on the time of year, you’ll likely see a handful of vendors setting up, as well as foot traffic before 6. By 7 the sidewalks start filling up, and by 8 the event is in full swing. Some venues and vendors stay open beyond 10 p.m. If you’re looking to linger longer, we recommend checking in advance or asking around as you go.

Timing tip: Arrive early to explore parking options or take the Valley Metro Rail (one-way, $2; all-day, $4) to the “Roosevelt/Central Ave” station.

Where To Explore

As one of the largest, self-guided art walks in the country, First Friday in Phoenix includes quite a lot of ground to cover. And, while free admission and special discounts to some of the city’s best museums and attractions — including the Phoenix Art Museum on select First Fridays, Heard Museum , and Japanese Friendship Garden — is a huge component of the event, most of the action is concentrated within two specific neighborhoods: the Roosevelt Row and the Historic Grand Avenue art districts, which transform into something greater than the sum of their parts for this special evening.

First Friday’s tip: Online maps are also available via the PUG (Phoenix Urban Guide) app.

Roosevelt Row Arts District

The Roosevelt Row Arts District, dubbed RoRo by the locals, has been named among 15 great places in America by the American Planning Association. This neighborhood — approximately defined by McDowell Road south to Van Buren Street and Central Avenue east to Seventh Street — is home to a wide variety of galleries, small stages, restaurants, bars, and boutiques that draw in locals and visitors alike.

Galleries & Art Spaces

Alwun House: For 50 years this gallery, performance venue, and foundation has held space for the arts in downtown.
Cahokia SocialTech + ArtSpace: An indigenous-led social, tech, and art working space that is home to gallery, exhibit, and retail areas, as well as workshops, markets, and events.
Eye Lounge: A collective, artist-run, contemporary art space committed to fostering emerging and established visual artists.
monOrchid: A community gathering space that features an art gallery, film and photography studios, event venue, co-working space, local eateries, and retailers.
Modified Arts: Showcases artwork — from national and international artists of all media in an accessible environment — via monthly exhibitions to provide a fresh perspective for both new and established collectors.
The Nash, one of the top jazz venues in the United States, is named for jazz legend and Phoenix native Lewis Nash. (read more).
Palabras Bilingual Bookstore: Promoting cultural representation and liberation of historically marginalized peoples through community engagement involving literature and the arts.
Wasted Ink Zone Distro: A library and store that houses hundreds of zines and serves as a home base for those seeking a DIY hub and creative space for self-publishing and zines.

These spaces operate at various hours, which can vary by date or exhibit. Please check the websites provided for the latest information.

Must-See Murals & Public Art

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Roosevelt Row is home to the city’s highest concentration of murals, some of which are regularly changed out in an effort to keep messaging current and also give revolving artists a chance to transform these canvases. However, spaces such as Phoenix’s unofficial “Mural Alley” have become centralized focal points. More commonly referred to as 1½ Street, and located behind The Churchill , this collaborative effort extends the entire length of the alley, covering the walls and other fixtures with captivating works by 12 local artists.

Located outside the Roosevelt Row Welcome Center, Xico Inc.’s series of shipping containers feature artists and works that support the mission of nourishing a greater appreciation of the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Latinx and Indigenous people of the Americas through the arts. (These same containers were formerly organized by Phoenix Institute for Contemporary Art.)

Photographers of all varieties will not only appreciate the art throughout Cambria Hotel Downtown Phoenix Convention Center but also the view from the top — From The Rooftop , to be precise. Arrive before sunset for the best golden hour views in the neighborhood, and stay to check out the First Friday festivities from a birds-eye view.

First Friday Art Walk: Your Guide to Experiencing Downtown Phoenix’s Premier Arts Event

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