First Fridays in Downtown Terre Haute are Back!
Join us on the first fridays in May-September at 7th and Wabash to celebrate the local goodness that Terre Haute has to offer: Music, Art, Community.
It’s all about community!
Each month will bring different opportunities for local musicians, artists and small businesses to highlight their unique contributions to the culture of Terre Haute!
We just need you!
Let's Bring Back First Fridays to Downtown Terre Haute!
The goal is simple: highlight our neighborhood and create some energy in our downtown community!
Our vision is to create a downtown block party, beginning on the 7th Street corridor, between Wabash and Walnut, and expanding outward. We are talking about storefronts open late, live music, vendors and food sprinkled throughout.
We need your help to make this happen! Here is how you can get involved:
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This effort is driven by our local business owners! We need you to buy in and add your flair to our downtown neighborhood on the first Friday of each month.
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We want to invite small businesses and creatives to our downtown to highlight the talents in our community.
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We would love to invite local non-profits who would like to add their magic to the events.
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We would love to invite interested community members to join our effort to re-energize our downtown.
Want to get involved?
Getting your business invovled
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Restaurants
Turn your restaurant into the neighborhood First Friday spot.
- Host rotating pop-ups from local makers or dessert chefs
- Host an acoustic musician to offer live entertainment
- Create a Happy Hour menu featuring cocktail specials
- Offer a tasting flight of small plates inspired by monthly themes.
- Display a small wall of local art for sale
-Simple extras — longer hours, grab-and-go snacks, a drink-and-draw night, or a themed playlist — make your place a cultural hub that drives traffic and sales.
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Bars
Turn First Friday into your bar’s best night of the month. Join the neighborhood celebration with a pop-up, partnership, or curated experience that draws foot traffic, builds buzz, and gives locals a reason to linger.
- Host a themed pop-up: Invite a local artist, maker, or food vendor to set up inside or outside your space—think vinyl shop pop-ups, cocktail collabs with a craft distiller, or a dessert table from a neighborhood bakery.
-Spotlight local talent: Feature live music, open-mic poetry, or a rotating roster of DJs and performers to keep energy high and encourage early arrivals.
-Curate a limited menu: Create a First Friday cocktail or small-plate special highlighting local ingredients or an artist-inspired drink to boost social shares and repeat visits.
- Offer interactive moments: Run quick workshops (mocktail-making, label-painting), a raffle for donated goods from makers, or a photo wall with branded props for social content.
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Businesses
Even business that don’t specialize in hospitality or retail can get in on the fun. Highlight the services that you provide!
- Offer quick, fun services for visitors
- Spotlight local artists or musicians into your space to show off their talents.
- Provide an activity for visitors in your space or on the sidewalk out front.
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Non-Profits
Want to put your nonprofit on the First Fridays map? First Fridays are a perfect low-cost, high-visibility way to connect with your community, raise funds, and showcase your mission—without wearing a nametag that screams “please donate.” Here’s how to jump in and shine:
- Reserve a vendor spot: Set up an engaging booth with clear signage, a quick mission pitch, and easy ways for visitors to get involved (signup sheets, QR codes for donations, contact cards).
- Host an activity: Offer a mini-workshop, interactive demo, pop-up art project, or storytelling corner—something that draws people in and creates shareable moments.
- Run micro-fundraisers: Try a spin-the-wheel, raffle, donation-based giveaways, or a “round-up” at a merchandise table.
- Keep it visual and tactile: Have photos, a short looping video, and a hands-on element (sticker, button, small craft) so passersby remember you after they’ve wandered off to the next stop.
