First Friday
in Canton, Ohio

Join us in a monthly celebration from 5-9 pm for amazing entertainment, music, incredible food, extraordinary art, and great shopping.

First Friday is a walkable celebration of the arts, incorporating galleries, shopping, and dining in downtown Canton alongside lively entertainment at the Hall of Fame Centennial Plaza.

Mark your calendar for the First Friday of each month, January through December, rain or shine.

Presented by: Visit Canton and The Downtown Canton Partnership

Are you a vendor looking to register for First Friday?

Upcoming First Fridays:

August First Friday

September First Friday

October First Friday

November First Friday

This Month's Theme & Entertainment

Join us on Friday, August 7th as we celebrate Hall of Fame Weekend in Canton from 5:00 pm-9:30 pm!

We are excited to announce our July First Friday Theme! Join us on Friday, August 7th as we celebrate Canton’s biggest weekend with Hall of Fame from 5:00 pm-9:30 pm!

The First Friday Summer Concert Series presented by ArtsinStark, Visit Canton and the Downtown Canton Partnership features FunkyardX at Canton Centennial Plaza!
The Kidz Zone presented by the IBEW Local 540 featuring free inflatables for our families is located on 3rd St NW outside of the Eric Snow YMCA!
The Food Truck Court will once again be located in the parking lot of the Eric Snow YMCA!
Our Community Connection Zone will be located on 3rd St NW between Court Ave and Cleveland Ave!
Nikolina from Q92 will once again be hosing her 4th St Dance Party on 4th St NW close to the Eric Snow YMCA Parking lot!
The Enrichment of Stark County Zone will be on Third St NW between Cleveland & Mckinley!

May 1st: Lady Melma

June 5th: SpYder Stompers

JULY 3: Monica Robins & the Ninja Cowboys

AUG 7: FunkyardX

SEPT 4: Beach City Postal & Anya Van Rose

OCT 2: DJ Brandon Mickle

First Friday Map

This month we are taking our event to a bigger level! We will also have a Pirate theme Bar Crawl happening at some fantastic places in downtown! These locations will be celebrating Pirates all night long (even after First Friday ends!) Some will even be offering Pirate themed drinks! The list of participating businesses are on the map.

Downtown Canton Map

Not familiar with Downtown Canton? Check out our map to help you locate all of your favorite downtown businesses.

FAQs

When is First Friday?

First Friday is held the first Friday of each month, January through December, from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

You can view the upcoming month’s dates and themes here.

What if there is inclement weather?

First Friday is held rain or shine!

Safety at the event is our number one priority—in case of emergency weather and in the interest of safety for both our partners and guests, we may cancel an event.

Stay tuned to our Facebook Page for the latest updates on each event.

Where is First Friday?

First Friday is held downtown Canton in what has been designated as the “Historic District” and area that encompasses all of the active businesses and galleries downtown. At the heart of the event is our new Centennial Plaza.

You can view a map of the event and its participants here.

Where can I park? How much does parking cost?

Downtown Canton has plentiful parking! With over 700 metered parking spaces and a great deal of free on-street parking spaces for visitors to the city.

REMEMBER: On-street parking at meters is always FREE after 4 p.m. on weekdays and and all-day weekends!

There are also a variety of parking decks and surface lots in the area. These are independently operated and pricing and hours can vary.

You can view the Downtown Canton Parking Map here.

Is the event family-friendly?

Absolutely! Our events are officially held from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and are family-friendly.

Note: Each participating business is responsible for the content of their establishment and some content may not be suitable for small children. Please use your discretion.

How much is admission?

First Friday is FREE to attend and there is no official entrance fee.

Any purchases you make during the event through local businesses are entirely up to you—but we appreciate you supporting our small businesses!

Can I setup a booth and sell items or food during the event?

Yes! We offer the opportunity for vendors to setup and sell during our events from May to October. You can find all the vendor rules and register for this opportunity.

Can I have alcohol outside during the event?

Yes! The Canton Arts District is inside the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) and most downtown businesses who sell beer, wine and alcohol at their establishments are participating in the program.

DORA FAST FACTS

Days of Operation: Seven days a week

Hours of Operation: 12:00 pm to 12:00 am, daily

Boundaries: 6th Street N. (north edge), McKinley Ave. (west edge), 4th Street S. (south edge) and Walnut Ave. (east edge). Patrons may walk freely within the DORA boundaries. Signage designates the entrances and exits of the DORA.

Official Cup: A specifically designated and marked 16 oz. plastic cup is the only cup permitted in the refreshment area.

Is the event pet-friendly?

Yes! Our event is pet friendly! Many businesses will even permit animals inside. Check with individual businesses for more information.

Please note: No animals are allowed in Centennial Plaza, with exception to service animals.

Service animals are always welcome at the event.

Where can I see a full list of participants?

Check out this month’s map for all of the details. (Please note participation is subject to change!)

I have questions or comments about First Friday...who can I contact?

Please contact Jonathan Becker, event coordinator, with any questions or feedback about the event at jbecker@cantonsid.org or 401.954.1768.

First Friday in Canton, Ohio