Merchant Center

First Friday

EVERYONE is invited to attend Downtown York’s monthly First Friday in Historically Edgy Downtown York on April 5, 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.

Interested in becoming a vendor on Beaver Street June-October? We’d love to have you! Fill out the form here.

Entertainment

Appell Center for the Performing Arts: JAZZ IN THE CITY featuring EXTREMITY. Show starts at 5:30pm

Jazz in the City presents York’s original jazz fusion band, Extremity!
John Harris – saxophone
Don Carn – violin and bass
Kris Kostiff – guitar and Bass
Mack White – percussion
Jeff Stabley – drums

This event often sells out in advance, so get your tickets early. Although students admission is free, they too should reserve a ticket in advance to be assured of a seat.

Central Market: Spring Open House from 5pm-9pm! Please join Collage Shop during First Friday at 6pm as they celebrate Central Market’s return to First Fridays with a Spring Fashion Show by Collage, in collaboration with Central Market!! This is going to be a very exciting night downtown! We will be featuring our NEW SpringSummer Fashions while being accompanied by the incredible music of Peter Bottros, founder of the 🎶Shine Music Foundation! You will recognize our models from several local non-profits and local businesses. Enjoy the make and take potting station at Commonly Overlooked plants. 🌸💐

🥗 Food Vendors will be OPEN!
📖 And enjoy local reading by author Andrea JamiFrancina as she reads her book“Please Little Seed Grow From Me.”

✨This is going to be a very exciting night downtown! We will be featuring our NEW SpringSummer Fashions while being accompanied by the incredible music of Peter Bottros, founder of the 🎶Shine Music Foundation! You will recognize our models from several local non-profits and local businesses. 💃🏼 📖 And enjoy local reading by author Andrea JamiFrancina as she reads her book “Please Little Seed Grow From Me.” 

L & E Playhouse: Fortnite and Lego Meet! 10am-1pm 

Martin Library: 

York County History Center: We’ll be offering free 30 minute Murals Walking tours at 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30. Meet us at our sandwich board on the corner of W Clark and N Beaver. These walking tours are just a taste of our full hour to hour and a half walking tours. Please note our sandwich board location will be close to the White Rose Restaurant Group Building.

 

 

arts

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

Creatives on King: April First Friday Birthday Bash! 6pm-8pm. Join us to celebrate our first year in business. Enjoy a mini dessert bar and party drinks in our classroom while you peruse the gallery and artist studios, as well as visit with animal guests from Reptile Smiles. All ages welcome from 6pm to 8pm! 

Dark Parlour: Mythic – April First Friday Gallery Opening. 5pm-9pm. Dive into Creatures of Legend & Lore! This show features art from 20 artists from local to international. Over 40 pieces on display exploring the mythic theme. From unicorns to cyptids, you’ll find art to meet any aesthetic.  

HIVE artspace: Call for Art: Animals – for the May Exhibit at HIVE artspace. Submission period is April 1 through April 15 for the May 3-25 exhibit. 

King’s Courtyard Artists’ Collective: KCAC, First Friday, April 5, 5pm-9pm. Come to King’s Courtyard Gallery and look for “Neon News”! You will find Large Neon Labels throughout the store signaling new work, new one-night-only price specials and more! Liette Monic will be in our new-fashioned back office from 6pm-8pm with $20 for 10 card Channeled Tarot Readings. The New Season’s a great reason to come to KCAC! 

Marketview Arts: Open 2pm-9pm. “Spill the Tea, Not the Coffee” Open Mic Poetry Night, 6pm-8pm in The Shop. Special guest Dr. Matt McBride will kick off the evening at 6 p.m. with a reading of his poetry. Then, we invite community members to take the mic and share an excerpt (2-3 minutes) of your poetry, short story, or spoken word piece. Participants will be asked to sign up for a slot upon arrival. Light refreshments will be provided. In addition, a new exhibition, Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.: “Agitate, Agitate, Agitate” will be on view on Gallery Hall.

OMG Studios: We have a jump start in April showers bringing May flowers. All small flower paintings are on sale for $75!

Steph Holmes Artist Studio: Commonly Overlooked will be teaming up with Steph Holmes Artist Studio from 5pm to 8pm to bring you a potting bar! Make my studio your first stop this First Friday evening to take advantage of free street parking and be among the first 8 individuals to participate in the potting bar for FREE. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win a $15 Commonly Overlooked gift card for more plant goodies. For those joining after the initial 8, the cost is $20 per person (plus tax). If multiple plants are potted together, such as a family paying together, each additional plant is just $10.

 

 

Shopping

 

 

Refillsim: Join us in a sustainable spring cleaning event! As we make room for more inventory, we’re offering 40% off select per oz products and eco-friendly goods. 10am-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.