Downtown Bloomington's First Fridays are getting a reset.
The City of Bloomington will support three of the most popular themed First Friday events, beginning with Tour de Chocolat in February.
In a press release, the city said waning participation in monthly extended evening hours for downtown businesses and galleries led them to rethink First Fridays around the three most popular ones.
In addition to Tour de Chocolat, July and December First Fridays themed around Route 66 and the holidays will continue with city-support.
The other months will be self-led by business owners.
Art Vortex gallery owner Janean Baird said Downtown's 12 art studios and galleries are "all in" to stay open late on First Fridays every month.
Many galleries position their exhibition calendar around the First Friday schedule, aligning openings with the increased foot traffic associated with the event. The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts has plans to expand its First Friday live music series, which offers a discount when patrons present a receipt from a Downtown business.
But a city spokesperson said public enthusiasm for First Fridays has shifted.
"Rather than eliminating First Fridays, the City is rethinking how the program can better serve the community by focusing on high-energy themes and offering more flexibility for Downtown businesses," the statement said.
Gallerist Pam Eaton said attendance has varied since First Fridays launched in 2008.
"However, the 12 downtown art studio-galleries continue to see more patrons coming from surrounding towns as the word is out that our locations are all in walking distance around the corners from each other," she said.
Large portions of Downtown are under construction, reducing parking and making pedestrian travel more difficult.
Baird said there is plenty of parking with the lots added at Main and Market and along Douglas Street. The galleries will host Slow Art Day in April and the 26th annual Art Walk on First Friday in November. Other themes are yet to be announced.
Theme Saturdays
In addition to the shift in First Friday, the city has planned three Saturday events in 2026, running September through November on the first Saturday of the month.
The announcement said September will be a honey theme, plus Halloween in October and a Shop Small theme in November.
"The Saturday events will focus on creative activities, family-friendly experiences and shopping-focused opportunities," a spokesperson said.
