Winter Wonderland
January 3, 2025
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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Enjoy the wonders of winter in downtown South Bend!
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About
Come to Downtown South Bend and try out some tasty hot beverages on the Coffee & Cocoa Crawl, cozy up to a fireplace at the South Bend Chocolate Cafe, Chicory Cafe, Howard Park, or Fiddler’s Hearth, go ice skating at Howard Park, or build a snowman on the Gridiron (weather permitting.) Enjoy winter a little before you get sick of it.
FREE PARKING
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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
Snowball Fight
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy a good old-fashioned snowball fight on the Gridiron (fake snowballs will be used if there is no real snow.)
435 S. Michigan St.
7:00 p.m.
R&B Night with R&B hits being spun by Dj Que, plus special performances by David Michael & Reminisce X. $5 Cover, Doors at 7:00 p.m.
439 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Highland Studio & Gallery will be hosting an opening reception for Carter Plasma's solo show this First Fridays.
120 Doctor M.L.K. Jr Blvd
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy free admission and extended hours at the South Bend Museum of Art this First Fridays.
219 S. St. Louis Blvd.
10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Enjoy ice skating at the Howard Park Ice Trail & Pond from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., plus a DJ Skate Night at 8:00 p.m. For more info on Howard Park Ice Skating and other activities there, click here.
Bunbury Gallery Open House
300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
We welcome our newest First Fridays participant – Bunbury Gallery – located in the historic St. Joseph Station and featuring a mixture of regional, national and international artists. You’re encouraged to checkout this new addition to the downtown arts scene this First Fridays!
Headliner Peyton Ruddy at The Drop Comedy Club
111 N. Main St.
9:00 p.m.
The Drop Comedy Club is located in the Aloft Hotel and features amazing comedy shows every Friday and Saturday night! This First Fridays they will have headliner Peyton Ruddy featuring Stephanie Robertson. DTSB will be featuring a contest on their Facebook page for a pair of free tickets to the Friday night show.
Plus - The Drop will be having a special bonus offer for all shows this first weekend in January! Every attendee to shows January 3rd & 4th will receive a coupon for $5 off a future event!
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.
Coffee & Cocoa Crawl
Throughout Downtown
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Enjoy a hot beverage tour of downtown with the return of the Coffee & Cocoa Crawl. Several downtown businesses will be selling smaller sized hot beverages for smaller prices, to allow you the chance to try several, sipping and strolling through First Fridays. In addition, some businesses will be selling special hot beverages for adults (these must be enjoyed in the establishments where they are purchased.)
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Click Here for a map and list of this year's offerings!
Ongoing First Fridays Promotions
714 E. Jefferson Blvd.
A Healing Oasis invites you to attend their First Fridays Open House, which is all about you coming to find out what their practitioners have to offer. Healers share their "magic" by offering mini sessions. You will also have a chance to check out their retail space, group events, and what services are at A Healing Oasis.
127 N. Main St.
Enjoy live music by Kennedy's Kitchen from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. every First Fridays!
333 S. Michigan St.
Enjoy amazing bargains on books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, and more for both kids and adults from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
1025 Northside Blvd.
Live music by Lucas Miner and 20% off bottles of MI Cabernet Franc​
121 S. Niles Ave.
Perry Vine - located inside the Emporium Building - will be doing tastings this First Fridays. Enjoy three free 1 oz. tastings, and additional for tastings $1.50. In partnership with Island Fusion guests may buy a meal and a glass and dine in the atrium area adjacent to our store — please note seats are limited. They will also have bottles for sale! Bring back your clean bottles and receive 10% off your next purchase!
218 Sycamore St.
They are located near Fire Arts and are a minority-owned studio that is seeking to build individual and community power through pole dance. They provide quality pole instruction and a welcoming atmosphere for all of their students.
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They will be featuring an Intro to Pole Class every First Fridays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for $22. Registration is required and can be done on their website.
WXYZ Bar at Aloft
111 N. Main St.
Buy 1 flatbread pizza and get a 2nd flatbread pizza at 1/2 off; plus monthly Cocktail for a Cause, with $1 from every cocktail sold donated to their featured charity of the month.
Plus Live @ Aloft with DJ Outlaw playing your favorite tunes. Live @ Aloft features local artists, groups or DJs playing music every Friday from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the WXYZ lounge.
SPONSORS
