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YESvember

November 3, 2022

2022 info appears below

2023 info coming soon!

Downtown South Bend will be embracing the season this First Fridays with a Football Fridays theme!

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About

This is a two-in-one event! We're combining First Fridays with Football Fridays!

Football Fridays is a FREE family-friendly tailgate party on the Gridiron taking place the Friday before select Notre Dame home football game, with live music, a cash bar, food vendors, yard games, and a seating area to enjoy downtown carryout!

The public is encouraged to wear their ND apparel, grab carryout from a downtown eatery or food vendor, and enjoy it at an all ages seating area that will be set up on the Gridiron. The November 4 Football Fridays event will feature live music by The Erly from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and a cash bar provided by the Courtyard by Marriott South Bend Downtown.

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

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Football Fridays

The Gridiron

5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Football Fridays is a FREE family-friendly tailgate party on the Gridiron which takes place the Fridays before select Notre Dame home football game, with live music, a cash bar, yard games, food vendors, and a seating area to enjoy downtown carryout!

Football Fridays is hosted by the Courtyard by Marriott South Bend Downtown, in partnership with Downtown South Bend, Inc. and Visit South Bend Mishawaka.

The public is encouraged to wear their ND apparel, grab carryout from a downtown eatery or from one of the Football Fridays food vendors, and enjoy it at an all-ages seating area that will be set up on the Gridiron. This Football Fridays event will feature live music by The Erly from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and a cash bar provided by the Courtyard by Marriott South Bend Downtown.

Football Fridays food vendors include Land & Sea Catering, Dixon's Popcorn, and Angels on Wheels. 

Additional Football Fridays vendors/sponsors/ organizations include Acceptance Insurance, The Arty People, Bglam LLC, JRMIDWESTART, MJ's Unica Bracelets, Pose 4 Me 360, Relay for Life, Resurrection Lutheran Academy, and U93.

Coloring Contest at

South Bend Chocolate Cafe

122 S. Michigan St.

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The South Bend Chocolate Cafe will host a coloring contest from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. All supplies will be provided. DTSB will also allow entries to be colored at the Gridiron. The entries will be displayed in the hallway throughout November for public voting, and the winner will get the chance to help Santa light the Christmas Tree at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 2. 

Keith Hall Trio at Merrimans' Playhouse

401 E. Colfax Ave., Suite 135

7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Keith Hall Trio will be performing at Merrimans' Playhouse this First Fridays with Andrew Rathbun and Robert Hurst. They will be celebrating the record release of "Made in Kalamazoo - Duos and Trios." Tickets are $10 ($5 for students) and can be purchased at this link.

Headliner Kristen Toomey at The Drop Comedy Club

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 headliner Kristen Toomey, featuring Jackie Linn. DTSB will be featuring a contest on their Facebook page for a pair of free tickets to the Friday night show. 

Live @ ALoft with DJ Outlaw

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 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!)

5:00 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday

COME FROM AWAY comes to the Morris Performing Arts Center November 29 through December 4, and now is your chance to win two tickets to the opening night show! Grab some friends and come see Broadway’s award-winning musical. Enter to win by clicking the link below.

The giveaway opens at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday evening. DTSB will contact the winner next week.

DTSB Fall Photo Op

217 S. Michigan St.

5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

DTSB has set up a Fall Photo Op with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and corn stalks right outside their offices at 217 S. Michigan. The photo area will remain up through November 6th. Take some fun photos and post them using #DTSBFallFun. Special thanks to Matthys Farm Market for helping supply the fall items!

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.  

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Friends of the Library Book Sale

333 S. Michigan St.

12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Friends of the Library Book Sale is back open!  Enjoy amazing bargains on books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, and more for both kids and adults from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

TakeOut 25 Downtown 

Join the TakeOut 25 Downtown South Bend Facebook Group to discover new dishes and restaurants downtown. We encourage you to join the group post pictures of your downtown carryout and in-person dining experiences.  

Vintage Christmas Tree Class

217 S. Michigan St.

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Learn how to paint a Vintage Christmas Tree like your grandma had! Step-by-step instructions will be provided in this small super interactive class. Only 10 spots are available and the cost is $85. The ceramic Christmas tree comes with a light kit consisting of a base, a light bulb, multi-color mini pegs, and a yellow star topper. Trees will be ready in a minimum of three weeks.

Ongoing First Fridays Promotions

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Barnaby's

713 E. Jefferson Blvd.

$4 pints every First Fridays; also featuring a First Saturdays special each month: any large 2 topping pizza, an order of breadsticks, and a pitcher of pop (or a 2 liter on carry out orders) for only $22 plus tax.

Bruno's

131 S. Michigan St.

Get one 14″ 1-topping pizza for $15

Center Stage Pizza

428 Lincoln Way West

Get an 18" 2-topping pizza, garlic cheese bread, and a 2 liter of soda for just $24

Chicory Cafe

105 E. Jefferson Blvd.

16 oz. Hurricanes and Blue Raspberry Long Islands for $5​

Dellstar VR

207 W. Colfax Ave.

50% off on online booking all day

Ironhand Wine Bar

1025 Northside Blvd.

Live music, 20% off bottles of MI Cabernet Franc​

Java Cafe

201 S. Main St.

Extended hours until 8:00 p.m. and offering $1 off their cocktails 

South Bend Chocolate Cafe 

122 S. Michigan St.

2 for $20 any crunch/pretzel combo

Tippecanoe Place/Studebaker Grill

620 W. Washington St.

1/2 price appetizers In the Studebaker Lounge 

Unique Boutique International 

122 S. Michigan St.

50% off the entire store 

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.

SPONSORS

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