Downtown Association announces new themes for First Friday 2025
Monthly event celebrates art and local spirit in the downtown area
KOKOMO, Ind. (Jan. 30, 2025) – Downtown Kokomo will continue to welcome visitors for First Friday, a series of events that brings crowds to downtown shops, restaurants and public art attractions on select months of the year.
The event, hosted by the Greater Kokomo Downtown Association, features a monthly theme and family-friendly activities on the first Friday of each month. This year, the organization is bringing new and returning themes to the popular event.
One of the new themes for 2025 is “Get Schooled” for August. This back-to-school celebration encourages guests to show off their school spirit and learn about exciting subjects taught by local businesses, organizations and artists.
“I have always viewed First Friday as the perfect opportunity to meet neighbors, admire art and experience a deeper sense of community while learning something new,” said Susan Alexander, downtown initiatives manager for the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance. “It’s exciting to gather with friends and family to celebrate what Kokomo has to offer.”
A few themes will be familiar to regular First Friday guests, such as October’s Masquerade, where guests of all ages can dress in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating at some of their favorite downtown businesses.
While some of the First Friday events are centered around an upcoming holiday or occasion, some are focused on the vibrant art scene in Kokomo. Guests can create art projects during Art Task in May or experience downtown Kokomo’s public art and local creativity during Art Walk in September.
Returning in 2025 is First Friday After Hours, a continuation of the festivities designed for the adult crowd. When the family-friendly portion ends after 8 p.m., guests ages 21 and older can indulge in the nightlife of downtown Kokomo by enjoying live entertainment, bars, pubs and extended shopping.
What makes First Friday special is local businesses and artists from throughout the community get involved. Those looking for an opportunity to represent their services to the community are welcome sign up for free on FirstFridayKokomo.com. Businesses and artists who would like to participate this year but do not have a downtown location are encouraged to partner with a downtown business to host their activities.
The initial First Friday event of the year will be on Friday, March 7. Events will run from March to December, with the exception of July in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. The list of dates and themes are as follows, with all events set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted:
March 7 – Hoop it Up!
April 4 – Go Green
May 2 – Art Task!
June 6 – Strawberry Festival (An extended celebration from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
August 1 – Get Schooled!
September 5 – Art Walk
October 3 – Masquerade
November 7 – Shop and Stroll
December 5 – Ugly Sweater
More information, including details on each theme and how to participate, may be found on FirstFridayKokomo.com or via the First Friday Kokomo Facebook page.
First Friday is sponsored by Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo.
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About the Greater Kokomo Downtown Association
The Greater Kokomo Downtown Association is a network of individuals, volunteers, and businesses committed to preserving, promoting, and enhancing the vitality of downtown Kokomo through economic development, design initiatives, and community engagement. The Association’s goal is to create a downtown ecosystem where businesses thrive, residents flourish, and visitors explore in a harmonious community atmosphere.