FIRST FRIDAY Experience an Authentic Missoula Evening

Join us in Downtown Missoula for First Fridays!  Held on the first Friday of every month, businesses showcase an important part of the heart and soul of our community – art! Experience an authentic Missoula evening as you stroll along Downtown’s historic streets where art galleries and local businesses open their doors to feature stunning art exhibits, live music, and special events.

You can also savor exclusive deals and specials at Downtown’s unique retailers and restaurants, making it a perfect night out for friends, families, and art enthusiasts alike. Don’t miss this opportunity to support local artists, enjoy fantastic food, shop at our retailers, and immerse yourself in the creative spirit that makes Downtown Missoula so special.

 

First Friday Special Happenings:

*for more First Friday happenings, visit missoulaevents.org or download the Arts Missoula Directory from Arts Missoula to get First Friday schedules, peruse artistic resources, check out the guide to local artists, and more!

JUNE 2026
  • 4 Ravens Gallery (216 N. Higgins): “Wild: Woven and Felted” celebrates the vibrant versatility of fiber art. Through a range of forms, artists have used familiar materials (think pine needles, wool or silk threads) in unexpected and inventive ways, creating work that pushes beyond traditional boundaries, including animal sculptures, detailed landscapes, and wearable art. Event starts at 5pm.
  • Artists’ Shop (127 N. Higgins): Artists’ opening reception for ‘The Needle & The Loom’ showcasing works by Heidi Zielinski and Bonnie Tarses. Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Calypso Sandwich Shop (311 E. Front): Join us at Calypso for June’s First Friday as we showcase the work of Lindsay Torres, a talented artist whose pieces are inspired by her family and the world around her. Experience a collection that feels both personal and deeply connected to everyday life while enjoying an evening of local art and community. Event runs 4-7pm.
  • Confluence Center (119 W. Main): For the month of June we welcome two local textile artists, Bonnie Tarses & Jennifer Leutzinger. Each artist is displaying her own separate body of work exhibiting different methods of textile artistry. Also featuring live music by the Jennifer Slayden, and be sure to catch our outdoor popup sculpture garden out behind Confluence! Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Cranky Sam Public House (233 W. Main): Get down to Cranky’s to fire up your First Friday! We’ve got art on the walls from Breze Schmitz and Ticket Sauce is here to rock the patio! If you haven’t seen this ripping trio of rockers you’ve got to check out their high energy, face melting guitar that will leave you speechless! Come grab a drink, some grub, and a spot on the patio! Music begins at 7pm.
  • Draught Works Brewery (915 Toole Ave): Say Gay is back and we’re throwing a party! Every year, Draught Works brewery and Missoula Pride come together to release Say Gay juicy Pale Ale, the official beer of Missoula Pride, and this year we’re making it a full-on celebration. Join us for the FIFTH annual release of Say Gay. Come for good vibes, great beer, and live DJ sets all day long. Event starts at 12pm.
  • Engle & Volkers (321 N. Higgins): Step inside a world imagined by the young artists of Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County. Enchanted Forest showcases original works created by Club members – a glimpse into the creativity that flourishes when kids have a safe, inspiring place to grow. Event runs 5-7pm.
  • Fact & Fiction (220 N. Higgins): Local DJ Adam Christopher playing some sweet soothing electronic tunes while people browse the beauty of books. Event runs 5-8pm.
  • FMC Books (123 W. Main): Originally from Iowa and now rooted in Missoula, Erin’s work explores femininity, vulnerability, rebirth, and the quiet force of womanhood through bold, block print–inspired paintings. Balancing abstraction and clarity, her pieces reveal layered forms and emotions that emerge slowly with time and distance. We are beyond thrilled to have Erin back as our special anniversary guest with a deeply personal collection shaped by symbolism, nature, and the human form. Join us for an intimate evening of art that feels both quietly powerful and emotionally resonant. Event runs 4-8pm.
  • Historic Florence (111 N. Higgins): Art. Music. Wine. First Friday at the Historic Florence Building, Downtown Missoula. Event begins at 5pm.
  • Import Market (201 W. Broadway): Join us for First Friday at Import Market! Explore art, vintage finds, and creative spaces on the third floor while enjoying kids’ karaoke sing-alongs and a family-friendly art activity. A fun, welcoming evening for all ages in one of downtown Missoula’s historic buildings. Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Leaf + Quiet (235 N. 1st St. W – Suite F): University of Montana Jazz students continue to hone in their skills in this Music Lab hosted by Leaf and Quiet. Enjoy live jazz while supporting our UM students, play board games, puzzle, doodle in coloring books and enjoy community in the most magical place in town! Event runs 7-9pm.
  • Local Missoula Walking Tours: Get 50% off all History & Art Audio Tours starting the Thursday before each First Friday. Explore Downtown Missoula at your own pace through stories, landmarks, and local history at localmissoulatours.com/.
  • Missoula Art Museum (335 N. Pattee): Join us for a special First Friday as we honor our members, welcome new faces, and have fun with MAM’s refreshed logo through free screen printing. Bring a shirt, tote, bandana, or anything you love we’ll screen print MAM’s fresh new logo on it, absolutely free. Become a member or renew on-site June 5th, and the first 50 new and renewing members walk away with a free MAM logo tote bag. Sip, mingle, and move through stunning exhibitions featuring works by Sara Siestreen, Kevin Bell, Aspen and Cameron Decker, and Cosmic and the Land: Works from the MAM Collection — then stay for live music by Tom Catmull and enjoy a no-host bar. Event runs 5-7pm.
  • Missoula Senior Center (705 S. Higgins): Friday Food Truck Pod featuring several local food trucks, the Missoula City Band, art, and more. Event begins at 5:30. *note: the food truck pod will be a weekly event every Friday through the summer.
  • Montana Natural History Center (120 Hickory): Inspired by Nature: Block Prints By David Miles Lusk. Join us for a First Friday event with artist David Miles Lusk of Anomal Press, as he shares work from his block print collection. David will provide a brief introduction about his work and its inspiration from the natural world. Come meet the artist, and enjoy a fun night at MNHC! First Friday attendees are also welcome to enjoy MNHC’s museum and exhibits and our onsite native plant garden. Light snacks and beverages provided. Event runs 5-7pm.
  • Noteworthy Paper & Press (219 S. 3rd St. W): Kick off Pride Month with us! Join us for a First Friday Celebration featuring incredible work from local LGBTQ+ artists: Gastropod Press, Aliyah Beads, Queen of Mars, and UmamiMami Creations. We’ll be dancing to beats by DJ Mumblebee, sipping drinks, and showing off the work of these incredible artists! It’s shaping up to be a fun night, we hope to see you there! Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Pearl Boba Tea (420 N. Higgins): Bringing back our mini-Asian pop-up market with food and craft vendors. We will also be celebrating our 5 year anniversary with raffles and freebies! Open 11am – 8pm, pop-up/birthday celebration from 5-8pm.
  • Radius Gallery (120 N. Higgins): Join Missoula’s art revelers in ogling local art! This month, we continue our year-long presentation of Montana ledger artists on the ground floor, and upstairs you can get a slice of what’s hot in the world of clay with our 11th Annual Ceramics Invitational. Gallery open 11am-8pm.
  • Run Wild Missoula (125 E. Main): Run Wild Missoula Sole Mates! Join us on the first Friday of every month at 6pm at Caras Park for a relaxed 3-mile run followed by snacks and time to mingle. Afterward, you’re welcome to keep the night going and head off to other First Friday shenanigans with your new connections. 
  • Sacred Ally (130 E. Broadway): Our incredible team of practitioners will be offering mini-sessions throughout the evening to help you ground, connect, release, and relax.
    Come sample the talented services our practitioners provide, or indulge in a delicious cup of ceremonial-grade cacao. Starting at 7pm, a bumping, monthly, family-friendly dance party for after the art walk, featuring local DJs! This month features DJ Kris Moon.
  • St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (420 W. Pine): Sounds of America with Regal Ensemble. Same concert presented at Cooks’ Gardens for our Concert on the Green. Tickets required. Event starts at 7pm.
  • The Clay Studio of Missoula (1106 Hawthorne): The exhibition Neighborly showcases work by Yve Holtzclaw, an artist-in-residence at the Clay Studio of Missoula since 2024. Drawing on early experiences of urban crawl in the metro-Atlanta area and flooding while living on the Chattahoochee river, Yve’s work focuses on the intersecting forces of wild and domestic through interdisciplinary installations of anthropomorphized climate, animals, and architecture. Event begins at 5pm.
  • The Old Post (103 W. Spruce): Kick off summer with us at The Old Post for our First Friday Summer Patio Party featuring live music from Timber Rattlers. We’ll have live music outside, an outdoor bar, and food. Music starts in the evening.
  • The Rhino (158 Ryman): Win a $50 bar tab and support the Western Montana LGBTQ Community Center! When you’re done cruising around town on First Friday, stop by for Rhino Ross Art Nite – our coloring contest for a cause. Winner gets a $50 bar tab. $10 entry includes: drink ticket, coloring supplies. $4 of every entry will be donated to The Center. **In addition to our regular lineup, we’ll be serving 0.0% Alt-tails (NA mocktails). And – as always – 50 beers on tap. Event begins at 7pm.
  • The Roxy Theater (718 S. Higgins): Join the Queer West Film Fest team in The Roxy Lounge for snacks, drinks, and a sneak peek at trailers for the upcoming films! Event runs 5-7pm.
  • Toiffer Pet Outfitter (422 N. Higgins): Toiffer’s 5th birthday! Sweet Peaks will be here with FREE dog + human ice cream ice cream with every purchase. Plus we’ll have amazing raffles + giveaways all evening! Bring your pets, your people, and your party vibes – we can’t wait to celebrate with you! Event runs 4-7pm.
  • Zootown Arts Community Center (216 W. Main): A full night of artistic fun! Three new exhibits opening: Youth Gallery: “1st Character Project” by Landon Zapata; Main Gallery: “Real Imaginary Places” by Rob Truax; Blackfoot Communications Gallery: “Plushy Guts” by Tennessee Glenn & Alissa Wynne. MissCast Productions – the ‘little theater company that could’ – is turning five years old in June, and they’re celebrating with a Rags to Riches variety show fundraiser extravaganza! For two nights only, join founders Maisie and Jasmine, along with a cast of some of Zootown’s most talented folks, for an evening of fun and fast-paced singing, dancing, comedy, prizes, and slime! Show at 7:30pm *Tickets required

Downtown Galleries

 

Are you a local business or artist looking to participate in First Fridays? Here are some ways you can be a part of the First Friday magic.

  • Businesses: Are you a business looking to host an artist in your location? Connect with Arts Missoula at [email protected]
  • Artists: Are you an artist looking to get your art in a business? Connect with Arts Missoula at [email protected]
  • Members of the Missoula Downtown Association: Participate in any way that works for your business (stay open later, host a special pop-up event, host live music, etc.). For more info on how to participate, email [email protected] or submit your First Friday information HERE.
  • Host a parklet! Also known as pop-up parks, parklets convert on-street parking spaces into temporary people places in support of a friendly environment for people biking and walking. It’s free for Missoula businesses to host a First Friday Parklet so sign up today!  CLICK HERE to get more info and sign up via Missoula in Motion.