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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?

Vendors

Upcoming First Fridays:

July First Friday

  • July 3, 2026
  • Downtown Canton

August First Friday

  • August 7, 2026
  • Downtown Canton

September First Friday

  • September 4, 2026
  • Downtown Canton

October First Friday

  • October 2, 2026
  • Downtown Canton

November First Friday

  • November 6, 2026
  • Downtown Canton

December First Friday

  • December 4, 2026
  • Downtown Canton

2026 Themes

JAN 2: HAVE AN ICE FRIDAY
FEB 6: PAR TEE ON A LITTLE GREEN
MAR 6: A PIRATE LIFE FIRST FRIDAY
APRIL 3: FIRE UP DOWNTOWN
MAY 1: THE MUSIC OF SPRING
JUNE 5: CHALK THE WALK
JULY 3: A SUMMER FIRST FRIDAY
AUGUST 7: HALL OF FAME
SEPT 4: CANVAS ON CONCRETE
OCT 2: SUPERFLY CAR SHOW
NOV 6: YOUNG AT ART
DEC 4: YULE SLEIGH

MAY 1: Lady Melma
JUN 5: 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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