Arts District hosts paid art crawl Friday amid First Friday pause

Local artists and businesses in the Las Vegas Arts District will hold an art crawl on Friday, October 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event takes place on the night usually reserved for First Friday celebrations, which are currently paused following a deadly shooting last month.

The crawl will occur along Main Street and Commerce Street. The Arts District Action Coalition announced that approximately 18 artists will sell their work during the event. The coalition stated that it will pay each participating artist $100. The funds for these payments come from donations made to the 18b Arts District board.

About 20 local businesses will host the artists by lending their shop spaces. These establishments will also sell their own merchandise during the crawl. Plur City, one of the participating businesses, noted that First Friday draws many of its customers. The shop said it is hosting local artists to help offset the loss of foot traffic from the paused monthly event.

Tony Chavez, co-founder of the Arts District Action Coalition, explained the financial necessity of the event. “Because I know so many artists that really depend on First Friday to make their income. This is a huge time for them when it comes to just making it by in their daily lives. And we don’t want them to lose that,” Chavez said.

The coalition is coordinating safety measures with the Las Vegas Police Department. Organizers have implemented stricter age restrictions and will enforce curfews for minors attending the event. The coalition stated that safety is a top priority to prevent future incidents at Arts District gatherings.

First Friday was suspended after the shooting that killed 15-year-old Carth Onasi Jacobs-Rodgers. Police arrested a 17-year-old who was booked into Clark County Juvenile Hall. The juvenile faces charges of murder with a deadly weapon and two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon.

Mayor Shelley Berkley said city leaders and organizers are reviewing operational changes before resuming the monthly event. She expressed hope that First Friday could return by the end of this year or in early 2027. Attendees of the upcoming art crawl will also have the opportunity to enter a raffle with prizes provided by small businesses.