What to know about First Fridays in downtown Phoenix
First Fridays on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix have been a favorite way for locals and visitors alike to experience the work of Arizona artists.
The Republic
On Friday, Aug. 7, rumors began circulating that downtown Phoenix’s monthly First Friday event would be relocating to Cannon Beach in Mesa.
However, that’s not exactly what’s going on here.
Popular Instagram account @phoenix_finds posted a photo that has since been deleted with a photo caption that read “Downtown Phoenix loses First Fridays as popular even moves to Mesa.” The post stated that “First Fridays is moving from downtown Phoenix to Mesa, meaning the longtime Phoenix tradition will look a whole lot different going forward. The move was announced Friday, August 7. First Fridays will continue, just with Mesa as its new home.”
Its new home, apparently, is the popular new development Cannon Beach where the Revel Surf Park is located.
AZ Family also reported the news and since has changed its wording to better reflect what’s actually happening which is the developers of Cannon Beach have decided to create their own First Friday event and made a point to clarify that “The Cannon Beach event is not affiliated with – nor a relocation of – the long-running First Friday art walk in Phoenix.”
The First Friday event with street closures and vendors lining Roosevelt Row may have been halted back in May after Roosevelt Row CDC and Artlink reported safety concerns, but the artists, galleries and businesses of Roosevelt Row have continued hosting the monthly art walk anyways.
President and CEO of Artlink Catrina Kahler stated that First Fridays is a 30-plus-year Phoenix tradition that evolved organically from a shared passion and vision from local artists and it’s sustained by the neighborhoods, artists, businesses and public who continue to show up and support the local arts scene.
“Roosevelt Row’s ARTS Market has been a significant part of the broader First Fridays ecosystem. While the market is not currently active, local businesses have continued to integrate local art in their establishments and host artist vendors on the first Friday of each month,” Kahler continued. “Efforts to explore ways for businesses to host additional activations, artists and arts-focused vendors to participate are ongoing as the connection to the arts has always been integral to its vibrancy and vitality.
“First Fridays is historically a decentralized event, with activity extending beyond Roosevelt Row to Historic Grand Avenue, Melrose, Midtown and other parts of downtown and central Phoenix. Communities throughout the region may develop their own First Friday programming, but those efforts are distinct from Phoenix’s longstanding tradition, which is not owned, operated or relocated by any single organization, district or community. First Fridays continues to evolve with the creative community that created it and the people who continue to show up for it.”
According to AZ Family, the Cannon Beach outdoor event will feature vendors, artists, live performances and DJ sets with admission to the outdoor area being free as well as parking.
Cannon Beach did not respond to requests for comment.
Meredith G. White covers entertainment, art and culture for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She writes the latest news about video games, television and best things to do in metro Phoenix.
