"Fall" in Love with Downtown
October 4, 2024
Downtown South Bend will be celebrating both fall and its love of downtown with this "'Fall' in Love with Downtown" theme!
About
Downtown South Bend will be celebrating both fall and its love of downtown with this "'Fall' in Love with Downtown" theme!
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The October First Fridays will feature a variety of events including an Oktoberfest Celebration, Pumpkin Palooza pumpkin carving at the South Bend Chocolate Cafe, a fall photo op, fall craft activity, the last architectural walking tour of 2024, the second annual TMV Nosferatu film screening event with live score, the Be Kind Campaign Launch Party on the Gridiron, vendors, and more!
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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.
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Entertainment & Activities
Oktoberfest Celebration
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
DTSB will be hosting an Oktoberfest Celebration on the Gridiron! Grab some takeout from your favorite downtown eatery or food from one of our First Fridays food vendors, and head to the Gridiron where we will have a seating area, activities, beer garden from Chicory Cafe, food and retail vendors, and a free polka concert by Will Smaka's Music Connection from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.! The Oktoberfest Celebration is free and open to all ages.
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First Fridays Food Vendors for October
Almost Vegan
Burrito Mafia
Dixon's Specialty Popcorn
Froggies Inflatables
KATE'S KITCHEN LLC
Ko-s port-a-pit
L’s BBQ
Rhonda's Tasty Treats
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Additional First Fridays Vendors for October
BluEnvy
HealthLinc
JoinUp! South Bend
Kuechler Custom Creations
​Mia More Oils
MySchoolOptions
Mystical Spa
PetsConnect! Inc.
The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery
Renewals by Anderson
Revolutionary Soccer Training
Sea Moss for Life
SJCPL
Temet Jewelry
​Wells Healthcare Services
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Fall Craft and Contest at DTSB Info Booth
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Stop by the DTSB info booth for a free fall craft and contest.
DTSB Fall Photo Op
217 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
DTSB has set up a Fall Photo Op with a mum wall, pumpkins, and hay bales, right outside their offices at 217 S. Michigan. The photo area will remain up for the month of October. Take some fun photos and post them using #DTSBFallFun. Special thanks to Matthys Farm Market for helping supply the fall items, and Ambassador Dan for his artistic vision and providing the finishing touches!
304 S. Main St.
7:00 p.m.
Kick off your Halloween season at October First Fridays as local experimental rock group, Also on Sundays, takes the stage at Leighton Auditorium (St. Joe County Library Main Branch) to perform a live original score to the 1922 silent classic, "Nosferatu: a Symphony of Horror."
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Come dressed in your favorite vampire-themed costume (vampire, victim, hunter, or familiar) for a chance to win movie tickets and other prizes, and enter the raffle for original horror art by illustrator Alan Hughes!
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This free, annual, family-friendly event is presented by The Music Village, in partnership with the St. Joe County Public Library and DTSB, Inc., and is sponsored by University of Notre Dame. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:00 p.m. start time. Parental guidance is suggested.
304 S. Main St.
7:00 p.m.
Kick off your Halloween season at October First Fridays as local experimental rock group, Also on Sundays, takes the stage at Leighton Auditorium (St. Joe County Library Main Branch) to perform a live original score to the 1922 silent classic, "Nosferatu: a Symphony of Horror."
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Come dressed in your favorite vampire-themed costume (vampire, victim, hunter, or familiar) for a chance to win movie tickets and other prizes, and enter the raffle for original horror art by illustrator Alan Hughes!
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This free, annual, family-friendly event is presented by The Music Village, in partnership with the St. Joe County Public Library and DTSB, Inc., and is sponsored by University of Notre Dame. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:00 p.m. start time. Parental guidance is suggested.
Guided Architectural Walking Tour of Historic West Washington District
302 W. Washington St.
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
We're switching up our normal historic walking tour that takes place during the summer First Fridays. This time we're touring the beautiful West Washington Street area, a National Register District showcasing an exemplary and eclectic blend of architectural styles and structures. Once home to influential citizens, titans of industry, civic leaders, and other prominent families; West Washington Street is now replete with businesses and residents that value and preserve the fine architectural legacy left in their care by those that preceded them.
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Tour guide Steve Szaday with the City of South Bend, in conjunction with Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County, will lead the evening tours. Cost for these 90-minute tours are just $10/person (cash only.) Reservations can be made by clicking here or by calling 574-282-1110. This tour will meet at 6:00 p.m. at the historic Ambassadors for Christ Church, 302 W. Washington St. (the southwest corner of Washington and Lafayette.)
The Play that Goes Wrong at South Bend Civic
403 N. Main St.
7:30 p.m.
The Play that Goes Wrong focuses on the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, which has received a substantial bequest and is putting on a performance of a 1920s murder
mystery play. During the performance, a play within a play, a plethora of disasters befall the cast, including doors sticking, props falling from the walls, and floors collapsing, leading to a predictably ridiculous but hilarious climax.
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The 2024 Michiana BE KIND Campaign launches this First Fridays on the Gridiron! The Launch Party will feature games for all ages, free popcorn, crafts, music, and community connections. Those who stop by will be invited to participate in a giant, community-created art installation (no artistic talent necessary).
At 5:30pm, the campaign will officially launch with a call to kindness. Every guest will receive a free BE KIND yard sign and swag like bracelets and stickers. The BE KIND store will have T-shirts and car magnets for sale. Learn more about and join the BE KIND campaign, intentionally spreading kindness throughout Michiana, by clicking here. Want to be a BE KIND community or business partner? There are free and sponsor levels available. Learn how by clicking here.
Pumpkin Palooza at South Bend Chocolate Cafe
122 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The first 200 visitors to the South Bend Chocolate Cafe this First Fridays will receive a free pumpkin to carve, with a donation to those in need, such as household items, cold weather items, or monetary donations. Carving tools and table space will be available. 50 small pumpkins will also be available for the younger kids to decorate.
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Carved pumpkins can be taken home, or left to be displayed on Michigan Street that evening as luminaries, and will be available to take home after that. Also take advantage of their First Fridays special: 2 for $20 any crunch/pretzel combo.
Fall Projects and Classes at The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery
217 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery will have several fall projects and classes for you to choose from this First Fridays! For starters, they will have a booth on the Gridiron where you can purchase their Halloween-themed to-go kits.
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At their shop, they will have a Spooky Fairy Gnome House -Handbuilding with Clay Class, and a DIY Ghosts & Floral Pumpkins Workshop. Visit their website for full details.
Opening Receptions at SBMA
120 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Join the South Bend Museum of Art for the opening receptions of Robert C. Sheild's American Series WHIP STITCH: Quilts Are Contemporary Art and the historical quilt exhibition Old & Bold: Vivid 19th and 20th Century Quilts from the Shein Collection. The evening celebrates the depth of quilting as a medium, with exhibiting artists and the curators in attendance. There will also be a community quilting activity for all ages in their printmaking studio.
Headliner Aaron Putman at the Drop
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 Aaron Putman, featuring Brad Kofman.
DTSB will be giving DTSB will be featuring a contest on their Facebook page for a pair of free tickets to the First Fridays show.
Headliner Aaron Putman at the Drop
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 Aaron Putman, featuring Brad Kofman.
DTSB will be giving DTSB will be featuring a contest on their Facebook page for a pair of free tickets to the First Fridays show.
Jim Cooper Quartet at Merrimans' Playhouse
401 E. Colfax Ave.
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Jim Cooper, the award winning vibraphonist, composer and educator, has been playing the vibes for over 50 years, leading numerous groups and appearing both as soloist and sideman. This First Fridays he will perform alongside Ken Cooper on trumpet, Darrel Tidaback on bass, and Danny Raymond on drums.
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Tickets are $12 General/$6 Student and can be purchased at this link. Head to the show early for food and drinks at the Culture Cafe!
Taylor Mezo Solo Show at Highland Studio & Gallery
439 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Highland Studio & Gallery will be hosting an opening this First Fridays to celebrate the work of Taylor Mezo.
Taylor (she/they) is a ceramic artist from Illinois, currently living in Pittsburgh PA. She works primarily in sculptural and functional ware, using red earthenware to create vessels utilizing a mixture of wheel throwing and hand building techniques. Taylor was recently named one of Ceramic Monthly's 2022 Emerging Artists.
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
