First Fridays in Denver's Art Districts
Find the pulse of Denver’s vibrant creative community year-round on the first Friday of each month in the Mile High City’s neighborhood art districts. Galleries, studios and cultural attractions stay open late for a mind-expanding night of art, food, drink and fun.
ART DISTRICT ON SANTA FE
Within this thriving creative community, enjoy more than 60 participating galleries, artist studios and restaurants on the First Friday Art Walk (6 to 9 p.m.) every first Friday of the month. Free, guided shuttle coaches pick you up at the light rail station at 10th Avenue and Osage Street and ferry you around the Art District between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Good to know: Every third Friday, the Art District offers Collector Preview Events, a more intimate version of First Friday with an opportunity for patrons to see the art and meet the artists and owners without the large First Friday crowds.
More Info: www.artdistrictonsantafe.com
GOLDEN TRIANGLE MUSEUM DISTRICT
Every first Friday, come find yourself in the Golden Triangle and lose yourself in a fun and free evening of fine food, art and culture. Free First Friday Art Tours take place in the Golden Triangle from 5 to 9 p.m. every month, with as many as 50 galleries, artist's studios, specialty stores and museums or cultural centers participating. The free Art Bus shuttles participants around the neighborhood to all of the openings.
Good to know: The Golden Triangle is home to the famed Denver Art Museum, but also several hidden gem attractions, like the Kirkland Museum and the Molly Brown House Museum.
More Info: www.gtmd.org
RIVER NORTH ART DISTRICT (RiNo)
Located just north of downtown, RiNo includes a remarkable concentration of creative businesses, including architects, art galleries, designers, furniture makers, illustrators, painters, media artists, photographers, sculptors and an array of studio spaces. Explore this innovative scene on the first Friday of every month between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Good to know: Second Saturdays in RiNo feature more than 50 open studios, food trucks, music and art for sale.
More Info: www.rivernorthart.org
TENNYSON STREET CULTURAL DISTRICT
The First Friday evening of each month, the merchants along North Denver’s Tennyson Street invite you to stroll, shop, and gallery hop from 6 until 10 p.m. Between 38th and 44th Avenues, check out restaurants, boutiques, coffee houses, indie book stores, the historic Oriental Theater, and, of course, wonderful art galleries and studios, all tucked into one of Denver's funkiest neighborhoods.
Good to know: My Sweet Bakery (4326 Tennyson St.) features two great things – delicious pastries and Colorado art.
More Info: www.tscd.org
NAVAJO STREET ART DISTRICT
This upstart art district is small, but grows with leaps and bounds. The best time to see what’s happening is – of course – on first Fridays between 5 and 9 p.m., with every month bringing new shows, artists, and art lovers to this lower Highlands neighborhood between 35th and 37th Streets.
Good to know: One of the winners of this year’s Mayor’s Excellence in Arts Award, Pirate: Contemporary Art has been a fixture on Denver’s art scene for more than three decades, bringing bold and eclectic art to Navajo Street year after year.
More Info: www.navajostreetartdistrict.com/
OLD SOUTH PEARL STREET
Stroll between 1200 and 1800 S. Pearl on First Fridays (April through December) and check out eight galleries, plus many shops hosting local artists, not to mention live music, food and drink.
Good to know: The Sand Dollar Gallery (1256 S. Pearl) opened its doors in 1975, making it one of the longest running galleries in Denver.
More Info: www.oldsouthpearlstreet.com 2013 FIRST FRIDAYS
January 4
February 1
March 1
April 5
May 3
June 7
July 5
August 2
September 6
October 4
November 1
December 6