Don’t Miss Out!
First Friday is a celebration of Downtown York, PA shops, restaurants, cultural venues and nightlife hot spots. From 5-9pm, downtown shops and restaurants host special events, offer refreshments and promotions, and sponsor live entertainment. As you are enjoying the First Friday happenings with your family, share your photos on Instagram and Facebook, @downtownyorkpa, #ffyork. Events and activities in BOLD are made possible this month thanks to grants from our First Friday sponsor, WellSpan Health.
Market district
- Appell Center for the Performing Arts: First Friday Free Family Film: Disney Fantasia- 85th anniversary! No ticket necessary. 6:30pm showing.
- Feral Heart Club: Pop up vintage clothing out front on the sidewalk! Stop by for vintage goods in all sizes!
- Give Local York Block Party: Visit with participating GLY nonprofits on the first blocks of North and South Beaver St. 5pm-8pm
- Indigo Bleu: Fates Bread and Honey Co is back in the shop for a pop up! 5pm-9pm.
- Keystone Kidspace: Parents’ Night Out – Give Local York Friday, May 2, 2025 5:30-8:30pm Don’t worry about finding a sitter – Keystone Kidspace is hosting another “Parents Night Out”! Drop your kids off for a night of supervised fun while you hit the town. Evening includes fun maker activities, dinner and snacks. This event is a fundraiser for Give Local York. This is a drop off event for ages 6+. Pre-Registration is required!
- Martin Library: To begin your celebration of First Friday and Give Local York, Martin Library invites you to the Opening Reception of “Do My Feelings Matter?”: Teen Art Exhibit. Student created art work will challenge the viewer to acknowledge that teen emotions and perceptions are valid. Thank you to the Cultural Alliance and the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts for their generous support.
- My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe: Shop Local and Give Back on York County’s most generous day of of the year! THANK YOU to My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe for once again partnering with the Junior League of York in support of our Give Local York fundraising campaign. Proceeds to the Junior League of York support women’s leadership development and community impact in York County.
- York County History Center: Free admission starting at 5pm plus the first public performance on the restore Tannenberg Organ!
- York Revolution: Give Local York takeover! GLY drawstring giveaway presented by Wagman Inc for the first 1,000 fans, freebie Friday, and fireworks presented by Give Local York and RKL.
royal square district
- Creatives on King – catch the last night to view “Catharsis of Contrast” show by Denzy Dark in the Upper Room Gallery. 10% Spring Sale on all Blue Q and select gift items on the second floor.
- Firefly Night Market in Royal Square: Grab a beverage or a bite at local eateries like Roaming Roast, Collusion Tap Works, Levant Mediterranean, Alley’s, World Grills, and Granfalloons. Come enjoy SIX magical First Friday evenings in the Royal Square District with a special outdoor night market on King Street from 5-9 on First Fridays in April, May, June, August, September & October! Free to attend! 5pm-9pm.
- The Glass Turtle Studio: Open 12pm-9pm. Check out classes and upcoming events! All tickets are available on EventBrite.
- HIVE: Join us at HIVE for a free Veg Party! See the new exhibit “For The Love of Animals,” meet the folks from Animal Advocates, try vegan treats, win prizes, visit Wendy Lane Smith in her 2nd floor studio, meet our newest HIVE Resident Artist – Frances Pugh, visit Angel the Tortoise, and stroll The Firefly Night Market out on King St! BONUS: a portion of all sales will go to Animal Advocates for Give Local York so they can continue to help animals!
- Josh Johnson Creative Studio: Open 6pm-9pm with the postcard exhibit on display.
- King’s Courtyard Artist Collective: We are celebrating new artist/members Kara and Frederick Young and Carl Novinger. Liette Monic will have special event pricing $20 for 10 cards Channeled Tarot Readings from 6-8:30pm.
- Noel’s Rock Shop: Open 6pm-8pm
- OMG Studios: Open 5pm-9pm. Check out May and June classes!
- The Roaming Roast will be open 9-9 for first Friday. We will be offering affogatos and our buzz
into May drink specials. Honey cold brew with vanilla cold foam and cinnamon sugar on top. Hot or cold Honey vanilla latte with cinnamon sugar on top and a honey stick inside! 
- Sprocket Mural Works is excited to offer guided mural tours of our York Mural Park every First Friday from May – October! See and learn about the over 30 murals located in the Royal Square Mural Park. Each tour will be approximately 1 hour. Meet outside on the Collusion Tap Works patio – 105 S Howard St, York, PA 17401. Enjoy a free 5 oz taster beer at Collusion after the tour. TICKETS: Suggested donation of $15 per person, may be purchased online in advance or in person. More details can be found here!
- Venture: Brenda Welty’s photography show continues along with new work by Melody Martin and Susan McDaniel. Come sip bubbly with us and enjoy snacks while you cruise the Venture shop.
weco district
- Gallery @227: Join Ky the Chemist and STEAM Sneakerheadz for a night of sneaker art, live music, student showcases, and light refreshments on First Friday, May 2nd from 5-9pm. 227 W Market Street (on west bank of the Codorus). Parking is available in our lot after 5pm.
- Stop by The Queue Building to celebrate the opening for the Collage Collective Show from 5 PM to 8 PM! The COLLAGE COLLECTIVE at the QUEUE was formed in January 2024, joining together a group of five women who utilize mixed media/collage in their art. The regional artists are Susan Darling, Kim Morrow, Cindy Owens, Margaret Ramage and Debbie Toluba Artist. The group is exhibiting their energetic work in the gallery space at The Queue Building which is one of 3 buildings on the 200 block of West Market Street operated by the non-profit, Ophelia’s Making Agency. Join us to celebrate the diverse efforts of these artists and enjoy an explosion of color, texture, pattern, and expression. The Opening Weekend for the Collage Collective Show is Thursday May 1 and Friday May 2, at The Queue Building , 280 West Market Street York, PA from 5 PM to 8 PM.
- The Studio Art Group will be featuring a solo show of new work by Artistry de Luz. Stop by between 5 PM and 9 PM. More event info can be found here.
- Gather 256 is open from 8 AM to 8 PM on First Friday, serving a full dinner menu, including our $5 DIY pizza for kids and free chocolate ice cream cups. We’re celebrating Give Local York by selling raffle tickets for a year of free coffee to benefit Friends & Neighbors of Pennsylvania, Inc., plus 10% of the day’s proceeds will go to a handful of organizations–you can vote for your favorite organization when you purchase in-person! Check out the work of artist Jennifer Calendar in our Main Gallery, and don’t forget we are family-friendly, pet-friendly and BYOB.
parking options
Parking is plentiful in Downtown York. There are 1,260 garage parking spaces and 350 on-street parking meters in our downtown area, and parking couldn’t be any easier for First Friday in Downtown York. On-street parking is free after 5pm.
Parking Garages: King Street Garage, Market Street Garage, Philadelphia Street Garage.Normal daily rates will apply from 8am-5pm. After 5pm, there will be a flat rate of $2.00 for the evening.
Free parking is also available in the Royal Square District after 5pm at the following locations: Corner lot of E. Newton Ave and S. Duke Street and E. King Street and S. Queen Street Lot (directly across from The Bond). For Collusion Tapworks Customers, parking is available in the corner lot of S. Howard Street and E. Newton Avenue (directly behind the Bond).
WeCo: Free on-street parking on West Philadelphia Street and at the Foundry Park parking lot.
