Merchant Center

First Friday

EVERYONE is invited to attend Downtown York’s monthly First Friday in Historically Edgy Downtown York on March 1, 2024, presented by WellSpan Health.

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.

Entertainment

 

Gather 256: Join us for a dedicated dinner menu from 5-9pm, along with a show! In partnership with Scarlet Rose and Sharee McFadden, Gather 256 will be hosting Open Mic Night from 6-8pm. First come, first to perform. No sign up required, and entry is free. Singers, poets, and comedians are welcomed. 

Martin Library: Our March First Friday will wrap up Read Across America week with some book+cake fun. Join us March 1 from 5-7pm to decorate a cupcake inspired by your favorite book! Cupcakes and decorations provided. Age-friendly activities for babies and toddlers. Free!

Royal Square District: March First Friday in Royal Square, 5pm-9pm

 

arts

Anita Williams and Joey Tice Art Studio and Gallery: Open on the third floor above the Handsome Cab. 

Creatives on King: Join us for the launch of our Makerspace and learn how to create and utilize homemade paper. Catch the papermaking interactive demo from 6pm-8pm. 

Dark Parlour: Open 5pm-9pm featuring art by Tim Myers and Jared Wood as a showcase of utilizing repurposed materials. See the result of the first installment of The Exquisite Body, a collaborative piece focused on Body Positivity. New goth-inspired primitives available in-house. 

Debbie Toluba Art Studio: Open 4pm-9pm. March up to her second floor studio above Venture to browse original artwork, add to the kids coloring mural, and play I Spy while you chat with artist, Debbie Toluba. 

Gallery @227: Blake Gifford of York Architecture Illustrated will be exhibiting in Gallery @227 in March and April! Join us on First Friday in March for the opening reception from 5-9pm. Enjoy a beer, a cup of wine, and assorted snacks while appreciating the work that Blake has on display. You may park in our lot after 5pm, so start and end your First Friday adventure at 227 W. Market Street. Normal gallery hours are M-F 8am-6pm. 

HIVE artspace: Join us for the opening of the surprisingly colorful “Monochromatic” exhibit – an exploration of single-color palette artworks! Plus Kate Rush Art will have her studio open from 6-8pm. HIVE will be open from 5pm-9pm. 

Josh Johnson Creative Studio: Open 6pm-11pm. 20% off prints and free Tiger sticker with purhcase. A press will be inked up and ready for demos!

King’s Courtyard Artists’ Collective: Come find your vibe at King’s Courtyard! Meet our artists as they give you experiences in creating nordic runes and an activity about color. Enjoy drumming with us & sample beer bread with cheddar cheese dip.

Marketview Arts: Featuring the 2023-24 YCASE Finalist Exhibition in Gallery Hall, with more than 120 pieces of art by York-area high school students representing 13 different schools. There will be also be an artist reception from 5pm-6:30pm on the third floor for the York Academy Upper School 2024 Senior Exhibition.

OMG Studios: Open 5pm-9pm. Come see what’s happening with OMG’s upcoming classes! Special $100 and under wall of paintings. 

Steph Holmes Artist Studio: Visit Steph Holmes Artist Studio for March First Friday to discover five new art prints featuring a variety of wild mushrooms and a colorful collection of acorns and local bird paintings. Steph will be working on her latest acrylic painting in the storefront window while you enjoy light refreshments and explore the gallery. Open First Friday March 1, from 5pm to 8pm. Free street parking is available after 5pm. All are welcome for an evening of art, inspiration, and community! 

Venture: New watercolors by Clair Stonor. Sample grapefruit bubbly and finger sandwiches while you browse. 

 

Shopping

 

Feral Heart Club: Open 10am-9pm for First Friday!

Gusa by Victoria: Open 11am-9pm. Come take a sneak peek of all the spring and summer pieces. It’s always a space to sample our beautiful handmade items and sip something sweet to unwind your tired self from a long week. 

Indigo Bleu: We’re kicking off March First Friday off with a bang. Get ready for something entirely fresh at the shop! Check out the latest spring candle, Paloma, new clothing arrivals, and plenty of new product drops. Winter apparel will also be 50% off. Open 10am-9pm. 

Noel’s Rock Shop: 5pm-9pm. “Tax Free” First Friday. The price you see is the price you pay. Noel’s will offer an appropriate discount on all in-store items to adjust for sales tax to be included in sticker prices. First Friday 5-9pm only. No taxation, just amplification! 

Refillsim: Spend $30 or more and spin the lucky wheel. 30% off sale on select Eco-Goods. Free beer or beverage sample while you shop! 5pm-9pm. 

 

Dining

Archetype Pizza: Open 11am-10pm for First Friday!

 

Parking

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 and parking in one of the three downtown parking garages is free after 6:30pm.

Parking Garages: King Street Garage, Market Street Garage, Philadelphia Street Garage.

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.