Participating Downtown Businesses
Food/Beverage
Eagle & Main Pop-up Bar
North Adams
FIRST Fridays
Join us on the first Friday of every month. Explore downtown businesses, discover local artists, and connect with your community.
FIRST Friday April, 5th
Down & Dirty
It's mud season, so join us and mud thumb wrestle with your friends, help clean up downtown, make a seed bomb, view art, eat good food, watch a film, dance, and buy cool items at our local shops. Mark the date and meet us downtown!
Activities (more to come)
Mud Thumb Wrestling at the Mohawk Marquee
Downtown Clean Up with the First Baptist Youth Group
Big Daddy’s: 2601 Mass MoCA Way
FREE FRY FRIDAYS!
Eagle & Main: 5-7:00 p.m. | 3-5 Eagle Street
Oh Hello Face Painting
Gallery 51: Oh Hello Face Painting | 5-7:00 p.m. | 51 Main Street
Gravity Gallery: 4-9:00 p.m. | 44 Eagle Street
Center of Gravity Local Pop Up: Monoprints by Lauren Levato Coyne
Installation Space: 5:00- 8:00 p.m. | 49 Eagle Street
Work by Center of Gravity Artist Residents: Pam Poquette & Berley Brown
MOSAIC: 5-7:30 p.m. | 49 Main Street
MCLA Dance Team showcase
Pebworth Studio and Work Space: 5-7:00 p.m. | 51 Main Street
Oh Hello Face Painting
Plant Connector: | 73 Main Street
5-7 pm: Full Well Farm: What is Mud? Learn about soil hands-on!
5-8pm: Make a free seed bomb
Savvy Hive: 5-8:00 p.m. | 53 Main Street
Pop Up: Bella Vendetta
ROOTS Teen Center: 5-7 pm | 51 Ashland Street
Spring Mud-ley: Dirt Cake Dessert Station & Make-Your-Own Potted Plant (Ages 13-19)
Common Folk: 6-8:00 p.m. | 12 Holden Street
Mud Dying Textiles & Craft Night
Eclipse Mill Gallery: 6-8 pm | 243 Union Street
Opening Reception, Mother: An exhibition of new paintings and works on paper by Kelsey Shultis
Future Lab[s]: 6-8:00 p.m. | 43 Eagle Street
Opening Reception: The Freedom of the Brush with live music from Hannah Cherry
Heart’s Pace: 7-8:30pm | 15 Eagle Street
Live Music
Bright Ideas: FIRST Friday After Party: 8-11:00 p.m. | 111 MASS MoCA Way
Past FIRST Fridays
FRIDAY MARCH 1st
Shake off late winter Cabin Fever this First Friday! We'll chase the winter blues away with a downtown business bingo where you collect stamps from local businesses to earn a prize. Community fun cures hibernation headaches. Mark the date and meet us downtown!
BUSINESS BINGO
Visit participating businesses downtown during FIRST Friday to get your BINGO card stamped!
Businesses participating in Business Bingo
Optimal Healing, LLC
Plant Connector
Heart's Pace
Common Folk
Roots Teen Center
Christo's
Bright Ideas
Savvy Hive
Terra Vintage
Hotel Downstreet
Bear & Bee Bookshop
Check with businesses for FIRST Friday hours (typically 5-8:00pm). Get five stamps in a row, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal to get BINGO! Once you get BINGO, turn in your card at any participating business and receive a FIRST Friday prize!
Girl Scouts: Cookie Table! | 51 Main Street
Gallery 51: 5-7:30 p.m.| 51 Main Street
On View: Unfortunately, It Was Paradise
MOSAIC: 5-7:00 p.m. | 49 Main Street
Poetry and Dance by MCLA students
ROOTS Teen Center: 5-7:00 p.m. | 51 Ashland Street
Pajama & Pizza Party
Future Lab[s]: 6-8:00 p.m. | 43 Eagle Street
Opening: Come If You Are
Common Folk: 6-8:00 p.m. | 12 Holden Street
Craft Night!
Heart’s Pace: 7-8:30pm | 15 Eagle St.
Live Music and mocktails
Bright Ideas: : 8-11:00 p.m. | 111 MASS MoCA Way
FIRST Friday After Party
February 2, FIRST Friday
I Love North Adams
February 2nd
5 - 9 p.m.
Downtown North Adams
Love is in the air and what better way to show your love of North Adams with a Valentine!
On January 27th, the FIRST Friday committee will hand out postcards at MASS MoCA’s Free Day. This is your chance to write a love note to North Adams! The postcards will be hung in windows throughout downtown North Adams, and you can check them out on February’s FIRST Friday.
Downtown businesses will extend their hours and host art receptions, and other special events, focused a shared love of the smallest city in Massachussets including:
Alison Pebworth’s Studio and Project Space: 40 Eagle Street | 5-8:00 p.m.
Center of Gravity: 44 Eagle Street | 5-8:00 p.m.
Daher Workshop: 38 Eagle Street | 5-7:00 p.m.
Open Studios
First Baptist Church: 131 Main Street | 5-7:00 p.m.
Plant Connector: 5-8:00 p.m | 73 Main Street
Savvy Hive: 53 Main Street | 5-8:00 p.m.
Terra: 11 Eagle Street | 5-8:00 p.m.
Installation Space: 49 Eagle Street | 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Common Folk: 12 Holden Street | 6-8:00 p.m.
Craft Night!
Future Lab[s]: 43 Eagle Street | 6-8:00 p.m.
Opening for the Day Glow Show
Hotel Downstreet: 40 Main Street | 7:00 p.m.
Heart’s Pace: 15 Eagle St. | 7-8:30pm
Live Music and mocktails
Bright Ideas: 111 MASS MoCA Way | 8-11:00 p.m.
FIRST Friday After Party
January 5th FIRST Friday
January 5th
5 - 9 p.m.
Downtown North Adams
The nights are dark, and the weather is cold, so North Adams is getting extra Cozy this FIRST Friday. Downtown businesses will extend their hours with special events.
Hotel Downstreet: 7:00 p.m. | 40 Main Street
Free screening of “Museum Town” in Studio B!
First Baptist Church: 5 - 7:00 p.m. | 131 Main Street
Gather around the fire and enjoy s’mores!
Savvy Hive: 5 - 8:00 p.m. | 53 Main Street
Pajama Party!
Plant Connector: 5 - 8:00 p.m | 73 Main Street
Open late! Activities to come!
Common Folk: 6 - 8:00 p.m. | 12 Holden Street
Craft Night!
Terra: 5 - 8:00 p.m. | 11 Eagle Street
Open late!
Heart’s Pace: 7 - 8:30pm | 15 Eagle Street
Live Music from Ciarra Fragale
Installation Space: 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. | 49 Eagle Street
Gong Baths performed by Howard Rosenberg from Anahata Schoolhouse Yoga and Wellness Center. Performances will be held at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 p.m., and will last approximately 20 minutes. Gong baths are a form of meditation where you “bathe” in the healing vibrations of sound.
Daher Workshop: 5 - 7:00 p.m. | 38 Eagle Street
Open Studios
Alison Pebworth’s Studio and Project Space: 5 - 8:00 p.m. | 40 Eagle Street
Celebrate a full year at Alison Pebworth’s studio with drinks and candlelight reflections on communal hopes for the coming year.
Center of Gravity: 5-8:00 p.m. | 44 Eagle Street
Opening Reception by CoG Artist in Residence Linda Kentoffio
Future Lab[s]: 6 - 8:00 p.m. | 43 Eagle Street
Opening Reception: Berkshires Invitational Exhibition, a group show by Berkshire area artists
LumiNAMA’s Last Look: Sunset - 9 p.m.
LumiNAMA is a holiday lights festival in North Adams, now in its second year. The majority of the lights will still be up on January 5th, so take this chance to do a last look around downtown.
December 1st FIRST Friday
December 1st
5 - 9pm
Downtown North Adams
It might be getting dark early, but this First Friday come to downtown North Adams and Bright Up the Night! This month will feature Luminama’s window and site-specific light installations, Phil Kline’s ‘Unsilent Night’, art openings, shop specials, and more. Connect with friends and neighbors and explore downtown North Adams in an immersive light and music-filled experience!
First Friday festivities, guests can participate in:
Unsilent Night: 6-7:00 p.m. | Big Bling, 4 Marshall Street | Starts promptly at 6pm!
New York composer Phil Kline returns to North Adams, MA with his walking symphony ‘Unsilent Night’. "It's like a Christmas caroling party except that we don't sing, but rather carry boomboxes, each playing a separate tape or CD which is part of the piece. In effect, we become a city-block-long stereo system," Kline says. Now in its 31st year, ‘Unsilent Night' was first performed in New York’s Greenwich Village as a one-time 45-minute composition. Since then, it has grown into a beloved annual event performed in communities around the world during the winter holiday season. First produced in North Adams in 2014, Unsilent Night has quickly become a much-anticipated addition to the Northern Berkshire winter event calendar. This free, family-friendly, community event begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. at Martin Puryear's Big Bling Installation at 4 Marshall St., weaves through downtown, and ends at Hotel Downstreet. For more details and information on how to participate, more info at northadams.unsilentnight.com
LumiNAMA: November 22 -January 1st | Downtown North Adams
LumiNAMA is a holiday lights festival in North Adams, now in its second year. Its mission is to brighten and celebrate downtown North Adams throughout the holiday season by encouraging business owners to hang lights, by connecting artists with local property owners to decorate unoccupied storefronts and by inviting residents to walk around their downtown to take in all the beautiful lights with their family and friends. Learn more at LumiNAMA.com.
Common Folk Makers Market: 5-9:00 p.m. | 85 Main Street
Come shop for handmade unique gifts made by local Northern Berkshire artists.
Rebel Beat Sound System: 5-9:00 p.m. | 85 Main Street
Enjoy music by DJ Gabe Besaw.
Future Lab[s] Gallery: 6-8:00 p.m. | 43 Eagle Street
Opening Reception for Paper, Pigment, Prints: Meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments.
First Baptist Church: 5-7:00 p.m. | 131 Main Street
Gather around the fire and enjoy the company of your neighbors as well as s’mores!
Heart’s Pace: Live Music: 7-8:30 p.m. | 15 Eagle St.
Plant Connector: 5-8:00 p.m. | 73 main st.
Holiday terrariums and gingerbread sculpture exhibit.
And many more to come!
FIRST Friday activities continue through the fall featuring the second annual Pumpkin Smash, art openings, live music, shop specials, food trucks, and more
Connect with neighbors while staying warm around the crackling fire pit.
Meet North Adams Candidates: Several candidates for elected offices such as City Council, School Committee, and Mayor will be present on downtown sidewalks so voters will have a chance to meet them and better understand their platforms before the Tuesday, November 7th election. 5-9:00 p.m.
PUMPKIN SMASH!
Hosted by Hotel Downstreet, 5-8:00 p.m. | 40 Main Street
Bring your unbleached and unpainted halloween pumpkins downtown to SMASH into the Second Chance Composting truck! Learn about composting and have fun! All ages welcome.
Face Painting
Hannah True from Oh Hello Face Painting: Free for all! 6-8:00 p.m. | 49 Main Street
DIY mini bouquet and garlic braid making
Full Well Farm: 5-9:00 p.m. | 49 Main Street
Rebel Beat Sound System
Enjoy music by DJ Gabe Besaw, 5-9:00 p.m. | Eagle Street Pocket Park
Full Belly Food Truck
Meet the folks from Full Belly and try some tasty BBQ! 5-9:00 p.m. | 23 Eagle Street
Migration Taco Food Truck
5-9:00 p.m. | on Main Street
INSTALLATION SPACE Opening Reception
“Syntactical Shifts” an installation by Lyn Horton 5-8:00 p.m. | 49 Eagle Street
Future Lab[s] Gallery
Opening Reception for Lapetus, Meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments! 6-8:00 p.m. | 43 Eagle Street
Gallery 51: Reflecting Ecologies: Artists in Nature 5-7:00 p.m. | 51 Main St
First Baptist Church: Gather around the fire and enjoy the company of your neighbors as well as s’mores! 5-7:00 pm
HeartsPace: Live Music 7-8:30pm | 15 Eagle St.
Plant Connector: Opening Reception for Moth Marking & Other Notions, Meet the artists Lauren Levato Coyne and Ava Samis 6-8:00 p.m
And many more to come!
November 3rd FIRST Friday
October 6th, 2023
October FIRST Friday is gonna be lit! Literally, featuring large-scale art projections that will light up the downtown. Eagle street will feature street mural painting, music and entertainment from Vuronika Baked and DJ Disco Nap, plus tarot readings. Check out the gallery openings, shop specials, and food and drinks throughout downtown, and swing by Hotel Downstreet for their FIRST Friday special event!
Projection art by Studio HHH, Hersch Visuals, Installation Space, Thrill Guild, Sequoia Oro, and Gallery 51.
Gallery, Shop, Restaurant & Community events:
Hotel DownStreet - Enjoy cornhole and beer samples from Bright Ideas Brewing
5-7 p.m. | 40 Main Street
Optimal Healing Grand Opening! Good vibes, fun, lite food, drinks, music by Todd Reynolds, tours and giveaways
4-6 p.m. | 184 East Main Street
Gallery 51 - Opening Reception for Reflecting Ecologies: Artists in Nature
5-7 p.m | 51 Main Street
Future Lab(s) Gallery - Opening Reception for Experiment No. 3
6-8 p.m. | 43 Eagle Street
Tarot reading with Rebecca - A heart-centered journey into layers of energetic movement and realms of inner knowing.
5-9 p.m. | 5 Eagle Street
Village Pizza - Outdoor dining | 5-9 p.m. | 51 Eagle Street
Jack’s Hotdogs - Outdoor dining | 5-7 p.m. | 12 Eagle Street
Eagle Street - Lounge: Beer & wine | 5-9 p.m. | 5 Eagle Street
Migration Taco Truck - 5-9 p.m. | Eagle Street
Click the links above to connect with downtown businesses and learn more about their FIRST Friday events!
September 1st, 2023
Grab some takeout from a local establishment, or bring your own food and eat and drink with your community!
Tables will line Eagle Street to create a Community Picnic!
Plus street games, live music, face painting, a bouncy house for kids, gallery openings, and downtown shop specials and events!
In addition to local restaurant offerings:
North Adams based Migration Taco Truck will be sell vegan Mexican food and Mr. Ding-A-Ling will be serving up ice cream on Eagle Street.
Village Pizza and Jack’s Hot Dog’s will provide outdoor seating.
The Eagle Street Lounge will serve beer and wine. (Alcoholic beverages cannot be consumed outside of the Eagle Street closure.
Free music performance by Five Pound Horse
Call for Buskers & Vendors!
We’re looking for visual artists, musicians, and performing artists to come out and show us your talent this FIRST Friday, September 1st.
Check out the map below for locations. Spaces are first come first serve starting at 4:30pm Friday, September 1st. Please consider sharing. This is a community event, and meant to be fun!
All activities are at your own risk, so please take out your own event insurance if needed.
Email firstfridays@nachamber.org with questions.
August 4th, 2023
Come downtown and party with us!
UPDATE: Due to the chance of severe thunderstorms the street will not be closed tonight but the galleries, shops, and restaurants are still open!
Enjoy street games, a bouncy house for kids, gallery openings, live music, shop specials, a bicycle rodeo, and great food and drink, right in the street!
Several of our downtown shops, galleries, restaurants, and our First Friday crew will be organizing events focused on partying and playing.
Gallery, Shop, & Restaurant events:
-Mr. Ding-A-Ling Ice Cream will pull their truck up to the event and offer ice cream for purchase.
-Carr Hardware is providing a rental bouncy house for the event. Bring your kids and let them have a ball while bouncing around, on Eagle Street.
-Village Pizza will be opening their doors and putting their tables and chairs right on Eagle Street, so their guests may enjoy the festivities over dinner. 5:00pm - 9:00pm | 51 Eagle Street
-Jack's Hotdogs will be extending their seating in booths on Eagle Street in front of their business. Customers may enjoy their hotdogs, burgers, etc. right on the street. 5:00pm - 7:00pm | 12 Eagle Street
-The “Eagle Street Lounge” will have beer and wine for sale, as well as free music, and seating available right on Eagle Street. Drink cups may not leave Eagle Street. 5:00pm - 10:00pm | 5 Eagle Street
July 7th, 2023 FIRST Friday
Get ready to play in the streets! Eagle Street will be closed and there will be outdoor dining from Jack’s Hot Dogs and Village Pizza. Plus live music, fun games, and chalk drawing. Bring your bike and participate in a ton of fun bicycle activites!
Pedal to the Metal
Bring your bicycle downtown this FIRST Friday and join the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and Mass Bike for a evening of mega fun bicycle activities!
Get bike safety tips in the Kids Bike Rodeo
Learn more about MASS MoCA’s art bike project
Go on a slow ride bike decorating party
DJ & Live Music
Mass Bike will be giving away FREE bike lights
Learn about the NBCC’s bike program
June 2nd FIRST Friday, 2023
Celebrate the kickoff of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and Mayor Macksey’s Fitness Challenge. Enjoy fitness and pride-themed activities, and visit all the activities on Eagle street!
Special performances by:
Austin Honig
Vuronika Bakked
DJ Disco Nap
Mohawk Film Initiative
-North Adams Pride is sponsoring the Rainbow Eagle Street Art initiative where Public Arts Commission & Mayor Macksey-approved rainbow art will be painted right on the street. 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Eagle Street Parklet
-The “Eagle Street Lounge” will have beer and wine for sale, as well as free music, and seating available right on Eagle Street. Drink cups may not leave Eagle Street. 5:00pm - 10:00pm | 5 Eagle Street
-Gong Baths, produced by Anahata Schoolhouse Yoga, will be available at Terra Nova Church | 85 Main Street
May 5th FIRST Friday, 2023
May's FIRST Friday event is focused on celebrating Spring and the coming warm weather and good vibes by embracing FLOWER POWER, and celebrating on the streets and sidewalks. Eagle Street will be closed to car traffic for the evening, and lots of activities will be available on the street.
Put on your floral outfits and help spruce up our flower beds, help create a floral chalk mural, enjoy dance and music performances, and visit our downtown businesses!
Several of our downtown shops, galleries, restaurants, and our First Friday crew will be organizing events focused on spring.
Events taking place:
5:00 pm: The First Baptist Youth Group and NAMAZING Project will lead a cleanup and replanting of grass and flowers in the Eagle Street pocket park. If you are willing to help, meet them under the Mohawk marquee at 5:00pm.
5:00-8:00pm: Gong Baths, produced by Anahata Schoolhouse Yoga, will be available at Terra Nova Church | 85 Main Street
6:00-8:00pm: Live music by Midnight 30 | Eagle Street Parklet
5:00 - 7:00pm: Plant sale under the Mohawk Marquee with 328 North Farm and Full Well Farm.
8:00pm: North Adams' dysFUNKcrew dance group will help us celebrate Flower Power as well as their 10th anniversary with a variety of dances and beats on the street at 8:00pm.street.
FIRST Fridays started in May 2021 as a grass-roots initiative with the support of local businesses and the North Adams Chamber of Commerce.
Boost your business!
Our goal is to get folks downtown on the first Friday of every month by partnering with businesses and galleries in North Adams.
The First Friday’s committee wants to work with you! If you would like to participate in an upcoming First Friday but aren't sure where to start, email firstfridays@nachamber.org, and someone from the team will contact you.
