Everyone is invited to attend Downtown York's monthly First Friday in Historically Edgy Downtown York on December 6, 2024, presented by WellSpan Health. 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.
Art:
- Creatives on King: Open 2-8pm. Photos with Krampus from 6pm-8pm. Holiday shop open with discounts on Blue Q and CJ Bella gift items and more.
- HIVE artspace: HIVE’s Holiday Bzzzaar- The December Exhibit! Visit HIVE’s HOLIDAY BZZZAAR for affordable mini art and unique hand-crafted gift items! So much to choose from: original artwork, ceramics, prints, cards, ornaments, stickers, t-shirts, jewelry & other artisan-created gift items all priced under $100 (and as low as $2!) for our December exhibit & gifting show! This giftable art marketplace will feature works by 30+ artists and makers. So not only are you giving truly unique gift items, you are also supporting artists! 5pm-9pm.
- Josh Johnson Creative Studio: Open 6pm-10pm. Otiginal watercolors and lino block prints will be available and a block on a press for demos.
- King’s Courtyard Artist Collective: Your host will be Harry Hawbecker, featuring his steam punk creations. Be sure to stop by after the tree lighting. You’re sure to find that one of a kind gift for that special person. 5pm-9pm.
- Marketview Arts: Jazz lovers of York, get ready for a night of good music, great food, and even better company! Join us for the inaugural Fridays After Dark event—featuring live jazz, local vendors, and an atmosphere that’s perfect for kicking off your weekend. So, grab a drink, a friend, and your favorite Friday fit. The party starts when you walk in! This event is presented by the York College Center for Community Engagement and Four Squares York, with food and beverages sponsored by Traditions Bank. 7pm-10pm.
- OMG Studios: Open 1pm-9pm. We have a lovely variety of items for gift giving or to treat yourself!
- Opehlia’s Making Agency Stuido Art Group: Journeys, a curated art exhibit by Isabel Clark opens during First Friday, 5pm-8pm. 259-263 W. Market St.
- Royal Square District Mural Park: Download the FREE app VisionsSolutionsAR and experience some augmented reality visual surprises in the mural park (allow your location while using the app)! Hot Tip: Be sure to look up at the sky above the parking lot!
- Steph Holmes Artist Studio: Stop by for a look at my latest winter-inspired artwork and watch as I paint live, capturing the magic of the season. I’ll be serving warm drinks and treats (sponsored by WellSpan Health). There’s a nature-themed art print giveaway just for visitors PLUS a free art activity where you can create your own nature-themed gift bags and tags.
Explore handmade ornaments featuring lucky acorns and ladybugs—each with a story. It’s a night to unwind, meet others who love nature, and find unique gifts that celebrate the beauty of the outdoors. Open 12pm-8pm.
Entertainment & Live Music:
- Alley’s: Step into the holiday spirit at Alleys’ Christmas Pop-Up Bar! Open most Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight, this cozy, lounge-style bar transforms into a festive wonderland perfect for gathering with friends and family. Enjoy seasonal cocktails, twinkling lights, and a warm, inviting atmosphere that captures the magic of Christmas. Whether you’re unwinding after work or kicking off the weekend, Alleys’ Christmas Pop-Up Bar is the ultimate spot to sip, celebrate, and create memories this holiday season. $5 Cover, 21+ after 9pm.
- Free First Friday Family Fun at the Appell Center: Celebrate the 60th anniversary of a holiday tradition- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! The show will start at 7pm to accommodate families attending Light Up Night on Continental Square.
- Jazz in the City at the Appell Center: Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day off, and students are free with ID! Join us for our monthly interactive quartet performing jazz favorites with funk, rock and Latin spices, plus a special selection of holiday tunes, including “Carol of the Blues,” specifically chosen for this performance! Join our friends from York College of Pennsylvania and Four Squares Development immediately following the concert for the inaugural Fridays After Dark event from 7-10pm at Marketview Arts (37 W. Philadelphia St), featuring a free night of good music, great food and even better company!
- Gather 256: Live music with Sirens at Liars starting at 6pm! Gather is BYOb, but also serves up complimentary beer and wine any time they’re open for dinner. The menus are posted by Tuesday to their Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Mesa Moreira: Come for dinner, stay for the entertainment First Friday, December 6th, at Mesa Moreira with Joel Toluba on piano and vocals performing tasteful renditions of jazz, pop and classic rock favorites!
- Royal Square District Mural Park – Download the FREE app VisionsSolutionsAR and experience some augmented reality visual surprises in the mural park (allow your location while using the app)! Hot Tip: Be sure to look up at the sky above the parking lot!
- Skid Row Garage: The Jasons, Italian Blood, Olde Tigers, Coffee with Lions, Paperback Tragedy. $10 advance, $!5 at the door. Doors open at 7pm. ALL AGES. 243 W. Market St.
Shopping:
- Art & Framing Warehouse:
- Cornerstone Barbershop & Shave Parlour: Walk ins welcome, 9pm-6pm.
- Line & Anchor Barbershop: Shop open 9am-7pm. Barber and Salon services available. Walk-ins welcome!
- Indigo Bleu:
- First Friday in Royal Square: Shop your way through the district! Come start your Holidays off with us! Here’s a peek at what we have planned for you in Royal Square
- WeCo First Friday: WeCo First Friday is presented by the merchants in the WeCo district of Downtown York, PA, on the first Friday of every month. Businesses in the WeCo District will feature extended hours and special events, making it a great evening to discover local offerings.
Dining:
- Collusion Tap Works – Open noon-10pm. Great bar food, 24 beers on tap. Enjoy $20 flatbreads and flights all day!
- Granfalloons Tavern – Open 12-10pm+.
- Gather 256: Open from 5 PM to 9 PM, serving a dedicated dinner menu including delicious Fall specials, and complimentary beer and wine! Their $5 DIY pizza for kids will be available as well. During your visit, you’ll also see the work of Ed Kaitz, on exhibit in the Main Gallery until November 8th. Gather will be kicking off a donation drive to benefit our local First Responders. On December 5th, they’ll prepare and deliver as much food as they can with the funds raised. Please consider helping to add to Gather’s generous $1,500 anonymous donation, along with their Thanksgiving Day match, by donating throughout November. If you’d prefer not to contribute financially, you can still participate by using their notecards to write a heartfelt thank you!
- Levant Mediterranean Cuisine: Stop by and try it out on First Friday, open until 9pm!
- Skillet2Plate Soul Bistro: Open 11am-10pm
- Roosevelt Tavern: Enjoy upscale farm to table cuisine in a casual setting in WeCo! Plenty of parking available in their parking lot too.
- World Grills: Open 11am-8pm. Asian-fusion. Vegetarian / vegan options available.
- The Yorktowne Hotel – Dinner 5-10pm. Continental cuisine with a twist.
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. Click the links below for driving directions to the three parking garages:
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
- E. King Street and S. Queen Street Lot (directly across from The Bond)
For more information on parking in Downtown York, click here.
For more information on First Friday and to stay up to date info on all the fun activities happening in Downtown York be sure to visit downtownyorkpa.com
