First Friday - Downtown Partnership

First Friday

Explore First Friday Downtown

October 4, 5:00 pm

Free and open to the public, First Friday Downtown features new art, live music and special events on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 9 p.m. at dozens of galleries, retailers and nonprofits throughout Downtown Colorado Springs.

Galleries offer in-person First Friday experiences compliant with current public health guidelines. Scroll down for a comprehensive of participating venues, updated monthly.

First Friday

Loading Events

November 1, 2024 Featured events & shows

 

Events are added as information is received

Cottonwood Center for the Arts presenting Sew Subversive
Cottonwood Center for the ArtsSew Subversive
  • 5-8 p.m.
  • We asked artists: what can you say with fiber that you can't say with other mediums? This call for entries invited artists to submit works that feature textile techniques as an art medium. 
  • Two floors of open studios + galleries 
  • Beer, wine, and cocktail by donation. 
Visit Website
True North Gallery presenting December After Dark with True North
True North GalleryDecember After Dark with True North
  • 5-10:30 pm
  • True North Art Gallery is proud to present art by 20 fantastic local creatives. Explore all different mediums from painting to sculpture to printmaking and even lipstick!
  • Wine and treats will be available in the gallery PLUS the doors are staying open late.
Visit Website
G44 Gallery presenting 12th Annual Show
G44 Gallery presenting 12th Annual Show
G44 Gallery presenting 12th Annual Show
G44 Gallery presenting 12th Annual Show
G44 Gallery presenting 12th Annual Show
G44 Gallery12th Annual Show
  • 5-9 p.m.
  • Over 100 local and regional artists
Visit Website
Kinship Landing presenting Katie Scruggs Galloway
Kinship LandingKatie Scruggs Galloway
  • 5-9 p.m.
  • Katie Scruggs Galloway from Becoming // Poetry presents her new book, Still and Still Moving
  • Live music courtesy of Jason Lee Band 7-9 p.m.
  • $2 Kinship Lagers
Visit Website
The Look Up Gallery presenting Distortion
The Look Up GalleryDistortion
  • 5-9 p.m.
  • Located inside Yobel
  • Distortion is a new collection of large scale works by local artist Ben Bires. 
  • Beverages offered
  • Music by DJ Rocky Ross
Visit Website
The Gallery at Cacao Chemistry presenting Art by Laurel Bahe and Lorraine Danzo
The Gallery at Cacao ChemistryArt by Laurel Bahe and Lorraine Danzo
  • 5-9:30 p.m.
  • Artists in person doing demonstrations
  • Sample delicious chocolate while you browse local art! 
Visit Website
Kreuser Gallery presenting Three new exhibits for December!
Kreuser Gallery presenting Three new exhibits for December!
Kreuser Gallery presenting Three new exhibits for December!
Kreuser GalleryThree new exhibits for December!
  • 5-9 p.m.
  • Atmospheres and Orbits, a playful new series of paintings done in oil and cold wax depicting an attitude of experimentation and play by Nancy Roach.
  • Release of the Trammels, a new exhibit of works by Don Goede
  • Shifting Reality, a collection of works by Lori Goede.
  • Music by Dubfuscious
Visit Website
Gallery 113 presenting In the Spirit of the Season
Gallery 113 presenting In the Spirit of the Season
Gallery 113 presenting In the Spirit of the Season
Gallery 113 presenting In the Spirit of the Season
Gallery 113 presenting In the Spirit of the Season
Gallery 113In the Spirit of the Season
  • 5-8 p.m.
  • December at Gallery 113 features timeless and innovative art works by our seventeen local member artists. 
  • Wine and Chocolates
Visit Website
Colorado Co-op presenting Jewelry Trunk Show with Christy Metz Design and Like Water Jewelry
Colorado Co-opJewelry Trunk Show with Christy Metz Design and Like Water Jewelry
  • 1-8 p.m.
  • Christy Metz Design and Like Water Jewelry will both be in-store with new pieces just in time for Holiday Shopping!
Visit Website
Universal Education Foundation presenting Just Art (and Gifts!)
Universal Education Foundation presenting Just Art (and Gifts!)
Universal Education Foundation presenting Just Art (and Gifts!)
Universal Education Foundation presenting Just Art (and Gifts!)
Universal Education Foundation presenting Just Art (and Gifts!)
Universal Education FoundationJust Art (and Gifts!)
  • 5-8 p.m.
  • Featured artists: Michelle Bracewell, Nicole Curtis, John Hagerty, Stephanie Lassen, Daniel Logan, Elizabeth Mackiewicz, Kristine Urban, Michael VanGalder, Frechelle Wilson
  • Snacks will be served, wine and beer by donation
Visit Website
Studio Noir presenting First Friday at Studio Noir
Studio Noir presenting First Friday at Studio Noir
Studio NoirFirst Friday at Studio Noir
  • 4-7:30 p.m.
  • Featured artist Tim Bachman {Odd Dream Design)!
  • Refreshments will be available.
Visit Website
Mash Mechanix presenting Countywyde Bluegrass
Mash MechanixCountywyde Bluegrass
  • 6-9 p.m.
  • Countywyde is a high-energy bluegrass band from Colorado Springs who loves making music
  • Craft beer and NA options
Visit Website
The Bridge Gallery presenting Small Works
The Bridge GallerySmall Works
  • 5-8 p.m.
  • We’ve invited some of our favorite artists to create smaller size works in clay, photography, painting, fiber, and mixed media.
  • Great for holiday gifting! 
Visit Website
Anita Marie Fine Art presenting Storied Places 2
Anita Marie Fine Art presenting Storied Places 2
Anita Marie Fine Art presenting Storied Places 2
Anita Marie Fine Art presenting Storied Places 2
Anita Marie Fine ArtStoried Places 2
  • 5-8 p.m.
  • A continuation of a series of places where the artist discovered a personal meaning and motivation to paint with an unshared intimacy.
  • Featured artists Richard Dahlquist and Chuck Mardosz
Visit Website
Auric Gallery
Five unique exhibits for November
  • Julie Kirkland: “Hidden Strength”
    • Life is full of unexpected twists and turns—surprise challenges we don’t anticipate. It’s common to feel fragile and unprepared, doubting ourselves and our ability to handle the trials that come our way. But often, when faced with these tough situations, we discover a surprising inner strength that we didn’t know we possessed. In the solitude of our hearts and minds, there can be a quiet reservoir of resilience and fortitude that surfaces when we need it most.
  • Carol Mordecai Myers: “Dropping In”
    • This latest body of work comes from two conflated ideas.  One from my recent introduction and love of scuba diving and the other of the feeling that happens when one drops into a project or task and is completely present.
  • Patricia Coughlin: “The Spontaneous Gesture”
    • This collection speaks to the ways in which curiosity, and a continual process of discovery, inform my work. I am an abstract painter, inspired by both the inner and outer landscape.  I begin with a spontaneous gesture and let intuition take the lead, only becoming intentional later in the process. For me, painting is visual poetry and reflects the mystery and joy of being alive.
  • Ashley Andersen & Deborah Schoen: “Preserves: Recipes for Domestic Rituals”
    • The intention of this show is to focus on the intersection of the invisibility of the home and the way that it impacts our societies. Invisible labor, where domestic routines are taken for granted, is a strong undercurrent to how Andersen and Schoen think through where the transcendent and the temporary encounter one another in these domestic spaces and practices. While the obvious boundaries of the show are situated under the “invisibility” of the house/home, more materialistic parameters inform their practice.
  • Carol Dickerson: “Tapestries and Looking Sideways”
    • The process of covering and uncovering, addition and subtraction, over and over again as I seek a resolution of the problems I have created. I am never sure where I will end up but at some point it begins to please me, some combination of color, shapes, texture, and line that I am drawn to.

Cash bar

Location:
Picture of Auric Gallery
Auric Gallery

125 E Boulder St.

Cottonwood Center for the Arts
People, Places, Things
  • People, Places, Things – a solo exhibition for the month of November featuring works by Max Settlage. Max Settlage was born in a small village in north central Vietnam and grew up in the mountains outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. As a young boy, he spent countless hours drawing and creating fictional characters. In addition to the natural beauty of the San Francisco peaks, and landscape adjacent to his childhood home, Max was also influenced by the culture and art of the Native peoples of Northern Arizona. After retiring from a career as a professional figure skater, he has worked over the past years to develop his painting style, learning techniques with acrylic, oil, and other media. Working in a style that can be described as illustrative storytelling, Max blends whimsical elements with traditional fine art tropes, adding a bit of the unreal and unexpected to familiar situations and settings.
  • Two floors of open studios and galleries
  • Beer, wine, and specialty cocktail by donation
Location:
Colorado Co-op
Works by Sean Sheridan
  • Featured Artist: Sean Sheridan is a photographer who has spent nearly two decades elevating people and brands through the power of the image. From revealing the dignity and resilience of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people to demystifying the most influential leaders and celebrities of our time, Sheridan is known for capturing the untold stories of transformation that inspire and unite mankind.
  • Complimentary Beverages will be available.
Location:
Picture of Colorado Co-op
Colorado Co-op

315 N. Tejon
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

True North Art Gallery
Featured Artist: Melissa Porter
  • Join True North for a lively First Friday from 5:00p – 9:00p
  • 15 local member artists will be showing work.
  • Melissa Porter is our November featured artist. Melissa was creates a visual narrative using found objects, vintage newsprint, beeswax, her own photography and symbols to tell the tales of her experiences and what she has witnessed.
  • Light refreshments
  • Beer and wine by donation
Location:
Rico’s Cafe & Wine Bar
Multiple artists + The Cleveland Experiment Duo
  • Featured artists: Christopher Hureau and Sue Tormoen
  • Live music by The Cleveland Experiment Duo
  • First Friday Happy Hour 4-6 p.m.
Location:
Anita Marie Fine Art
Moments - an Exhibition Of Original Master Works
  • Times: 5:00p – 8:00p
  • Moments”  a 7-week exhibition, featuring original oil paintings by Chuck Mardosz and Richard Dahlquist.
    These gorgeous paintings will capture your imagination and inspire you to recall old and make new memorable moments in your life. At Anita Maie Fine Art, we focus on bringing exceptional beauty and insight to the canvas to create art that you want to see every single day. We like to say buying our art is like an “adoption” and you know you will love this painting for many, many years to come.
  • Light refreshments provided.
Location:
Picture of Anita Marie Fine Art
Anita Marie Fine Art

109 S Corona St.

Gallery 113
Golden Autumn Light
  • November brings golden light to Colorado’s landscapes, and Gallery 113’s featured artists for November bring that light to life in their own depictions of autumn.  April Stark paints our seasonal golds in watercolor and acrylic on paper, canvas, and glass.  Suzy McDowell, painter, also captures the Colorado golds in her canvases filled with glittering acrylic trees, shining mountains, and reflective water.  Come celebrate these artists’ lights with them at the Gallery 113
  • Complimentary wine, chocolate, and non alcoholic beverages provided
Location:
Picture of Gallery 113
Gallery 113

125 N. Tejon

Ohana Kava Bar
Islands in November
  • Featured artist:  Daniel Logan (4:30-8 p.m.)
  • Meet Daniel and explore works inspired by his travels, love for nature, and personal journey. Each piece reflects not only his artistic vision but also the stories and beauty that have shaped his life. It’s the perfect evening to enjoy kava, connect with the community, and soak in the welcoming, creative spirit of Ohana.
  • Enjoy unique kava drinks in Ohana Kava Bar’s island-inspired atmosphere.
  • Kava and other non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase
  • Live music featuring Jay Martin 8:00p-10:00 p.m.
Location:
Picture of Ohana Kava Bar
Ohana Kava Bar

112 E Boulder St.

The Colony
New Exhibit Member & Fresh Artwork
  • We’ve welcomed several new exhibit members in the last 2 months, and our walls have a ton of fresh new artwork. As always, we’ll have artists live painting in studio for a behind-the-scenes look & meet and greet with free beverages.
  • Featured Artists: Sonal Kamalia, Jennie Harvey, Felicia Kelly, Noor Adwan, Niki Welch
  • Free wine, soda, and water
Location:
Picture of The Colony
The Colony

2 S Wahsatch Ave.

Mountain Standard Goods
Local Collage Artist Jill Kolman - Mountain Standard Goods' 3rd Anniversary
  • Featuring local collage artist Jill Kolman, who will offer original art for sale as well as prints, stickers and cards.
  • Jill is a Colorado Springs native and a talented collage artist creating a new life through old magazine clippings.
    Her designs are as creative and unique as her vibrant personality, seamlessly blending retro elements with contemporary flair. With love and gratitude at the heart of her work, Jill is steadily building a future as an artist, captivating audiences with her innovative compositions and distinctive style.
  • It’s also MST Goods’ 3rd Anniversary! Complimentary food and cocktails all night long!
Location:
The Bridge Gallery
"Opposite Directions: A Study in Oil and Water"
  • An exhibit of works by Jana L. Bussanich
  • Opposite Directions: A Study in Oil and Water” is an exhibit of paintings by Jana L. Bussanich that explore the interplay of opposing elements of oil and water. Her imagery reflects a personal journey set against California’s redwoods and Pacific coastline.
  • Show runs through Saturday, November 28.
Location:
Picture of The Bridge Gallery
The Bridge Gallery

218 W Colorado Ave.

Getting around Downtown

 

Hop on a PikeRide electric bike and use coupon code OCTAOTS24 for 60 minutes of ride time for only $8! 

Try the new Free Downtown Shuttle to see more of Downtown! The new shuttle operates from Cache La Poudre to Rio Grande streets, seven days a week on 7-10 minute intervals. Click to learn about the free Downtown Shuttle.