First Friday, the monthly downtown art festival, will not happen in November or December. The City of Las Vegas paused the event to work on safety after a shooting at last month’s First Friday killed a teenager. Another person faces several felony charges, including murder.
Mayor Shelley Berkley announced the two-month pause at a Thursday briefing, and the event could return in January 2027. Berkley said the city is discussing more Metro police and Las Vegas city marshal presence “to keep the peace,” News 3 reported.
Artists keep the night going
Local artists did not wait. On Friday, Nov. 6, an alternative art crawl took place in the 18b Arts District with 23 local artists and 23 businesses taking part, according to News 3. Each artist received a $100 stipend. Izaac Zevalking, owner of Recycled Propaganda, is one of the organizers.
Organizers said the goal is to keep supporting local art and the small businesses that count on First Friday crowds while the official event is on hold. Assemblymember Miguel Dávila, who represents District 15, said the crawl is a chance to test which security measures work for future events.
What it means for locals and visitors
- There is no official First Friday street festival in December. Watch city announcements for January plans.
- Arts District galleries, shops and bars remain open, and artist-led events like Friday’s crawl may continue.
- Expect a larger police and marshal presence when First Friday returns.
Anyone with information on last month’s shooting can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
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