February 3, 2023
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Enjoy the wonders of winter in downtown South Bend!
About
February’s “Fire & Ice” themed First Fridays will have live ice carvings (with some featuring a fire element), fire dancing, and a fireworks show! Plus warm up at downtown fireplaces located at Chicory Cafe, South Bend Chocolate Cafe, W Lounge at Woochi, and Fiddler’s Hearth, and fire pits at Howard Park, South Bend Chocolate Cafe, Jon Hunt Plaza, Cafe Navarre, and Studebaker Plaza. A S'mores station will also be located at Studebaker Plaza.
Also, take advantage of value-priced menus at 22 downtown restaurants for Winter Restaurant Weeks. Check out all the details below.
FREE PARKING
Parking (on-street and in City-managed garages) is always free in downtown South Bend nights and weekends. For full details on downtown parking options, click here.
Entertainment and Activities
The Gridiron
2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
In keeping with the Fire & Ice theme of this month’s First Fridays, we will have 11 live ice carvings taking place by MICA (Michiana Ice Carvers Artisans), and a special fireworks presentation taking place at 8:30 p.m. The fireworks will be set off from south end of Howard Park (that area will be closed off to pedestrians from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for the setup, display, and removal of the fireworks. There will be a special choreographed River Lights display to coordinate with the fireworks. Fireworks viewing locations include Howard Park and the Jefferson Bridge sidewalk, but the best place to watch both the fireworks and the River Lights show will be the Colfax Bridge sidewalk.
Live ice carvings will be taking place this First Fridays from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at various downtown locations including:
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Studebaker Plaza
The ice carvings are sponsored by the establishments listed above plus the South Bend Cubs (they will have a carving of their 2022 Midwest League Champions Trophy at Studebaker Plaza), Downtown South Bend and the Downtown Dining Association.
111 N. Main St.
9:00 p.m.
In case you didn't hear The Drop Comedy Club relocated to the Aloft Hotel and features amazing comedy shows every Friday and Saturday night! This First Fridays they will have co-headliners Janice Rodriguez and Irma Ruiz. DTSB will be featuring a contest on their Facebook page for a pair of free tickets to the Friday night show.
211 N. Michigan St.
8:00 p.m.
The original production won ten Tony Awards, including a special Tony for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time. You’ll be there when the sun rises on this new production, with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family.
Featuring the Broadway classics “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “To Life,” FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will introduce a new generation to this uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life!
120 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Visit the South Bend Museum of Art this First Fridays for a free reception of the "Innermost" exhibit, with an artist talk and free refreshments. The Performing Media Festival Reception will also be taking place, and you can get a sneak peek at the Scholastics exhibition which will have its opening ceremony the following day - February 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fire Dancing at Studebaker Plaza
Studebaker Plaza
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy free fire dancing performances at Studebaker Plaza by Dana - Flow_Rhapsody and April Sheree.
S'mores and Warming Stations
Downtown
4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Several warming stations will be located throughout downtown this First Fridays. You can find fire pits at Howard Park, the South Bend Chocolate Cafe, Studebaker Plaza, Jon Hunt Plaza, and Cafe Navarre.
Studebaker Plaza's fire pit will also be featuring a S'mores station from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
219 S. St. Louis Blvd.
11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Enjoy ice skating at the Howard Park Ice Trail & Pond from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more info on Howard Park Ice Skating and other activities there, click here.
111 N. Main St.
8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Live @ Aloft in the WXYZ bar will feature DJ Outlaw playing your favorite tunes November 4. Live @ Aloft features local artists, groups or DJs playing music every Friday from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the WXYZ lounge.
The WXYZ bar also has "Cocktails for a Cause" with $1 from every cocktail for a cause sold donated to their featured charity of the month. Also take advantage of their First Fridays special - buy 1 flatbread pizza and get a 2nd flatbread pizza at 1/2 off.
321 S. Main St.
8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Bring out your inner diva at South Bend Brew Werks with karaoke this First Fridays (and every Friday!)
Opening Reception at Fire Arts
305 E. Colfax Ave.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Fire Arts Inc. invites the public to an exhibit by ceramic artist Valerie A. Schroeder, known as Murisopsis. Her exhibit, “Pandora’s Box Opened” will be open from February 3 – March 31, with an opening reception on February 3 and an artist talk on March 3 at 6:00 pm.
As a ceramic artist, Valerie found her passion in creating sculptures of the microscopic world that are not only visually arresting but also conceptually unique. By manipulating texture, form and color, she is able to create pieces that are simultaneously captivating and deeply meaningful. Each work serves as a reflection of the pre- and post-pandemic society and its vulnerability to threats that are difficult to comprehend or control.
Retail and Dining Specials
NOTE: First Fridays drink specials are available for anyone 21+ throughout the day on First Fridays, for the operating hours of participating businesses.
St. Joe Coffee Co. Latte Special
305 S. Michigan St.
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The St. Joe Coffee Co. - the new coffee shop located in side the St. Joe County Library's Community Learning Center - will be featuring 50% off their February specialty drinks - "Sweetheart's Sparkling Lemonade: lemonade with club soda, raspberry syrup, and freeze-dried raspberries; and the "True Love Milk Tea": hot black tea with milk, rose syrup, and wildflower honey from Unity Gardens.
112 W. Colfax Ave.
5:00 p.m. to midnight
Cinco 5 will be bringing the fire this First Fridays as they feature their spicy cucumber margarita. They now have special extended hours on Fridays and are open until midnight!
127 N. Main St.
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fiddler's Hearth has created a special "Fire & Ice Sundae" for this First Fridays, featuring Turkish burnt milk pudding, toasted oak ice cream with lapsang souchong caramel sauce and smoked cotton candy. They will also be featuring an entree with flame-broiled pepper-crusted sirloin, pomme frites, charred tomato & bleu cheese frozen custard.
22 Downtown Restaurants
January 23 through February 5
Downtown South Bend Restaurant Week offers diners the opportunity to experience the variety of cuisine downtown South Bend has to offer from Italian to fine dining, New Orleans inspired to Japanese flavors. The menus include breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner options, plus carryout options. 22 Downtown South Bend restaurants will offer valued-priced menus (view menus here.) Approximately 10% of the proceeds from each meal purchased will be donated directly to the Beacon Children’s Hospital.
231 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Welcome to one of our newest First Fridays participants - Dainty Maid Co. Food Hall! They will have special extended hours for dinner on weekend nights including First Fridays, with dining options from Oak + Ash, The Beard & The Boss, Smashed, Propaganda Pizza, Hall Pass, and a Roaster Called Revenant.
321 S. Main St.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Welcome to one of our newest First Fridays participant - Salon Nouveau - located in side the Hibberd Building across from the library in downtown. They will be offering the following special discounts this First Fridays: 20% off Aveda Comforting Tea & Candles, 10% off all Aveda products, and $6 per bead for hair tinsel.
Ongoing First Fridays Promotions
SPONSORS
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