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Merchant Center

First Friday

EVERYONE is invited to attend Downtown York’s monthly First Friday in Historically Edgy Downtown York, presented by WellSpan Health.

First Friday in Downtown York

Sponsored by WellSpan Health, First Friday is your chance to experience the best of Downtown York’s shops, restaurants, cultural venues, and nightlife. From 5–9 p.m., businesses come alive with special events, promotions, refreshments, and live entertainment. As you explore, don’t forget to share your favorite moments on Instagram and Facebook by tagging @downtownyorkpa and using #ffyork.

Join the fun of First Fridays as a vendor during Downtown Inc’s series of block parties on North Beaver St.! Each will take place the First Friday of every month June, July, August, and September from 5:00pm – 8:30pm. Please carefully read the instructions below before applying.

Monthly Themes:

  • June – Pride in the Street
  • July – Fourth of July BBQ Block Party
  • August – Farmers Fest
  • September – Future Neighbors and Friends 
Become a Vendor
Market District Events
Royal Square District Events
WeCo District Events
Parking Options

Market district

:Two opportunities to enjoy First Friday at the Appell Center!

  • First Friday Free Family Films- Looking for a free, fun family activity to kick off the weekend? Join us for our April First Friday Free Family Film: 𝘼𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 (1951) in our historic Capitol Theatre. 6:30pm, No Ticket Necessary! Just come in and enjoy! Concessions available for additional cost. Come early to listen to preshow entertainment from the Susquehanna Valley Theatre Organ Society on our Mighty Wurlitzer Organ! 
  • Jazz in the City: Jazz in the City presents York’s original jazz fusion band, EXTREMITY! 5:30pm in The Studio. $10/advance, $15 day of the show. 

Central Market: Select vendors will be open from 5pm-9pm as the market reopens for First Fridays!

The Kitsch-enette: Join us for our monthly open mic First Friday! No, you don’t have to sing. You can read a poem, tell a story, do improv, honestly whatever you want up there! We have Italian sodas, and any of our regular menu items and a bunch of vegan snacks. Come hang out, make new friends, play board games, shop, etc! 5pm-9pm

Gift Horse Brewing Company: JC Fisher Band at 7pm. Live music and Friday night vibes to kick off the weekend.

Indigo Bleu: Open late until 9pm for First Friday!

Marketview Arts: Join us for a reception during April First Friday to celebrate the opening of Counterbalance, a special exhibition to draw the Lancaster and York art communities closer together. The curators will give a talk in Gallery Hall at 6 pm. Refreshments will be provided.

Beaver Street Vintage Shops! Did you know that Downtown York is home to 4 vintage shops, all just minutes from each other? Make your way to all four during First Friday!

• Edition Styles, 38 S Beaver St.
• The Kitsch-enette, 21 S. Beaver St.
• Revolt Style Studio, 26 N. Beaver St.
• Feral Heart Club Vintage, 49 N. Beaver St.
Dining on Restaurant Row: Check out the restaurants of North George Street in Downtown York. Note that some restaurants encourage reservations.
  • Rockfish Public House, 110 N George St.
  • The Handsome Cab, 106 N George St.
  • Tutoni’s, 108 N. George St.
  • Bloom Kitchen & Bar, 120 N. George St.
  • Gift Horse, 117 N. George St.

royal square district

 

Come hang out with us in the Royal Square District for First Friday! See below for a peek at what we have planned for you!
– CORNERSTONE BARBERSHOP – Open for walk-ins 9am – 6pm. Come check out our new location at 119 S. Duke Street in the Royal Square District of Downtown York!
– CREATIVES ON KING – 12-8. Visit Creatives on King for First Friday to celebrate the opening reception for Pat Tome’s “Different Strokes’ in the Upper Room Gallery! Meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments from 6-8pm. Bring the family to participate in our Art Egg-Stravaganza throughout the rest of the gallery from 6-8pm – hunt down eggs to win a variety of prizes, candy, discounts, and more!
– GLASS TURTLE STUDIO – 12-9.
– HIVE artspace – 5-9. Join us for the opening of “PLAYTHING” – our retro toy-themed exhibit featuring artworks by 35+ artists in a variety of mediums. Angel & Fitz will be back and ready to play, Spiraling Arts will be open on the 3rd floor, and Wendy will have her studio open on the 2nd floor with her friend Art Vend. We might even have a little goodie for you, too!
– IN BETWEEN PAGES – 12-8.
– KING’S COURTYARD – 5-9. KCAC is a one of a kind gallery with 20 diverse artists. Harry will be your host, with special guest Eliz creating “Wish bottles” – write a wish on strip of paper, Eliz will fold it into a star, place star in bottle and add colored sand, crystals, wood, and other materials of your choice into the Wish Bottle. Wax seal optional ($5-6).
– MOLLY’S FOLLIES – YES! It’s Back! – 5-9pm. Shop antique, vintage, and upcycled home decor. Stone Girl Bone Girl is our resident metaphysical purveyor with healing stones, framed insect artwork, and bone sculptures.
– NASIM & CO – Info pending.
– NOEL’S ROCK SHOP – 6-8pm. Guitars, pedals, amplifiers & accessories. VISIT US OR ELSE!
– ROAMING ROAST – 9a-9p. Drink Specials: Peeps Latte – A favorite from last year! Matcha latte! Iced Lavender Latte with lavender vanilla sprinkles!
– TIGER RABBIT STUDIO – 6-9pm. pen 6-9. Original art and linoleum block art. A vintage letter-press machine will be on hand for printing demos.
– VENTURE – 5-9. Venture presents, “In Bloom”, a group show of flowers…paintings, jewelry, cards, clay, paper lanterns, scarves, paper flowers & more. The show opens First Friday, April 3 and continues through May 31, 2026.
First Friday will celebrate with an art make and take, electric harmonica music by Parker James Hooker, bubbles and bites. New work will continue to be added. Come check it out and then come back for more.
– THE VENTURE STUDIOS – 5-9. Planet Side Art Works, Jessica Novinger, and Tatyana Nadtochey will have their working artist studios open for visiting, on the 2nd & 3rd floors above Venture. Head on up to the third floor above Venture for an out of this world experience at Planet Side Artworks! NEW original one of a kind watercolor pieces will be available!
– VIBRISSAE PET GROOMING BOUTIQUE – 9am-4pm – $10 nail trims every First Friday! Get to know our staff! Book with us on First Friday with deposit and get 15% off your scheduled groom or 15% off memberships.
– GRANFALLOONS TAVERN – First Friday Afterparty starts at 9pm with Aortic Valve! $5
– ALLEYS BAR – House Fridays with DJ Pound. No cover before 9.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
– LEVANT MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE – 11am-8pm. So delicious! Try the Mediterranean Platter for a taste of several items.
– COLLUSION TAP WORKS – Open noon-10pm. Great bar food + 24 beers on tap.
– GRANFALLOONS TAVERN – Open 12-10pm+. Friday Night Special – Half-Price Backside of the Food Menu! American bar fare, wings, burgers, steak.
– WORLD GRILLS – Open 11am-8pm. Asian-fusion. Vegetarian / vegan options available.
– THE YORKTOWNE HOTEL – Continental cuisine with a twist from 5-10pm. The Rooftop Lounge is open 4-11, so come on out to the district for the main event from 5-9, then end the night enjoying some stellar views and a nightcap!

weco district

Join us in the WeCo District, York’s arts and small business district located just West of the Codorus Creek, for a First Friday full of creativity, food, and community.

Start at the FREE parking lot at Foundry Plaza/Codorus Boat Basin. Save this parking & walking map to follow from stop-to-stop: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PTmEaMAtgvU8B6A7A

  • • Gather 256: open 8 AM to 5 PM. (256 W Philadelphia St, York, PA)
    • Steph Holmes Artist Studio: open 8 AM to 3 PM. Come explore her studio full of nature-inspired paintings, prints, and gifts along with her latest collection. (2nd floor of 256 W Philadelphia St, York, PA)
    • The Queue Building: open 5 PM to 8 PM. View the“Everything Around Me” solo show of original work by artist Kara Anstine. (280 W Market St, York, PA)
    • The Studio Art Group: open from 5 PM to 8 PM. Come explore the “Women’s Work” art show. (263 W Market St, York, PA)
    • LifePath Thirft Store: open 9 AM to 8 PM. (283 W Market St, York, PA)
    • Precious Gems Little Art Drop Gallery: open 24/7. WeCo’s little free art gallery. (36 S Newberry St, York, PA)
    • Penn Market: open from 6:30 AM to 3 PM. York’s oldest farmer’s market. (380 W Market St, York, PA)
    • Skillet2Plate Soul Bistro: open 11 AM to 10 PM. (355 W Market St, York, PA)
    RSVP and invite your friends!

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. 

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.

​Ready for more fun?

​We have events year-round! Check out our calendar.

Downtown Calendar