Events for December 5, 2025
First Friday is celebrated on the first Friday of each month throughout Downtown Raleigh to showcase the best of our city's creative community. Thousands venture downtown to visit art galleries & studios open late to host exhibits, artist talks, and creative activities. Retailers and restaurants also get in on the fun with live music, vendor markets, specials/discounts, and more. There's something for everyone each First Friday.
Create your own First Friday itinerary by selecting the hearts for events and experiences you don't want to miss. Receive a custom map and itinerary to guide your First Friday evening!
Continuous Art develop, come for the first time or for the next time to see how collections art evolving and expanding, all welcome!
Swing by Artspace each month to view new exhibitions, enjoy a hands-on art activity, and shop with our 30+ studio artists
First Friday is celebrated on the first Friday of each month throughout Downtown Raleigh to showcase the best of our city’s creative community. One of the founding organizations behind First Friday, Artspace opens its doors until 10pm every First Friday. Artspace's First Friday also includes a sensory-friendly time with smaller crowds and no amplified music from 4-6pm.
First Friday is always free and open to everyone!
December First Friday will feature:
A Fine State of Disrepair with work by Jason Craighead in Gallery 1
Built to Remember with work by Lauren Selden in Gallery 2
My notifs are off, come to my art show with work by Anna Lee, 2024 NC Emerging Artist in Residence in Upfront Gallery
12x12 Member Showcase in the Corridors
Meet and shop with our 30+ studio artists
All ages art making activity, 4-8:30pm
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Este evento se celebra el primer viernes de cada mes en Downtown Raleigh y muestra lo mejor de la comunidad creativa de nuestra ciudad. Una de las organizaciones fundadoras del Primer viernes, Artspace, abre sus puertas de 4 a 10 p. m. el primer viernes de cada mes.
¡El Primer viernes siempre es gratuito y abierto para toda la comunidad!
About Artspace //
Artspace is a non-profit visual arts center located in Downtown Raleigh. Visit Artspace to explore exhibitions featuring national and community artists, engage with more than 35 artists working in their studios, and enjoy art classes and community events for all ages and abilities. To learn more about Artspace, visit artspacenc.org
Parking and Accessibility //
Free street parking is available on Davie Street. Free parking is available at the following parking decks:
City Center Deck, 429 S. Wilmington St.
Moore Square Deck, 233 S. Wilmington St.
Municipal Complex Deck, 201 W. Morgan St.
Wilmington Street Station Deck, 117 S. Wilmington St.
There are also several pay lots nearby: City Market parking lot and several Secure P lots for night + weekend parking (314 E Davie St, 415 S Person St, 417 S Person St).
Explore accessibility information with our Know Before You Go Guide.
We're staying open late! Captain Cookie is extending hours to 10 PM to join the festivities at @transfercofoodhall. Enjoy art, live music, and, of course, our super-powered cookies. First Friday just got sweeter!
People like to think of the new year as a fresh start, where all of our undertakings from the previous year come to a tidy conclusion or are forever left behind, but life, and especially art, doesn’t work that way. Year after year we carry with us the great ideas that never came to fruition and projects stuck midway, too good to discard, but frozen at an impasse. For the month of December, we’ve invited artists to share their unpolished gems and works in progress in an exhibition we’re calling “Unfinished”.
CoLab is, if nothing else, a supportive community. It’s our hope that the conversations sparked while viewing these unfinished works in progress will lead to new collaborations. Come join the conversation!
And on First Friday, come paint with us by contributing to our collaborative painting! There's also the amazing Five Dollar Sketch Wall- a novel way to build your art collection (even if you're broke) and help support CoLab at the same time, thanks to generous donations from our artists!
The Carter Building will be hopping Friday! While you're here, visit our awesome neighbors throughout the building!
You don't want to miss the Sip n Shop at the City of Raleigh Museum during Raleigh's First Friday - December 5th from 5:30-9:00pm. Come shop local vendors while sipping on some amazing holiday cocktails. So fun! Admission is free.
Join us at Curate from 6-9pm Fri Dec 5th for a make your own candle event with Tobacco Road Supply Co! Amy, the maker for Tobacco Rd candles, will be with us and will have her make your own candle station set up. Making a custom candle is the perfect cozy treat for yourself or to gift a loved one. Shop our collection of handmade goods and enjoy a complimentary refreshment while you wait for your creation to finish setting. There will also be lots of other First Friday events going on around downtown. We are so excited to celebrate the holidays and local art with you!
Kick off your weekend with live music this Friday at The Davie!
Join us for an unforgettable night as the incredible Michael Parker takes the stage, blending soulful melodies with crowd-favorite hits. Grab your favorite drink, relax, and let the good vibes roll!
Celebrate Raleigh's First Friday with a unique make-and-take event! Drop-in anytime between 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Designed For Joy studio in downtown Raleigh to create your very own Raleigh Acorn Bell—a charming keepsake that symbolizes our "City of Oaks."
Gallery C Fine Art is pleased to announce an upcoming one woman exhibition, “A Life Well Lived,” featuring the work of acclaimed painter Laura Lacambra Shubert, running from December 4, 2025 through January 10, 2026.
Shubert, one of Gallery C’s most popular and successful artists, presents a compelling collection that celebrates the beauty of everyday pleasures and life’s cherished moments. Her paintings capture the essence of “a life well lived” through intimate portrayals of vacations in the French countryside, serene beach scenes, and the warmth of beautifully appointed homes.
Join Le Dive and Old Ghosts Tattoo for a unique experience every First Friday in Raleigh! Le Dive, teams up with Old Ghosts Tattoo for an exciting night of flash tattoos, good vibes, drinks and food and creative energy!
Create and connect with your creative community! Join us for an evening fun and creativity at Leela Improv Theatre at 309 N. Boylan Avenue in Raleigh.
Start your month with laughter, creativity, and community!
Leela’s First Friday Improv Jam & Open Mic is a one-of-a-kind night where everyone is invited to play, perform, and share. Whether you’re an improvisor, musician, poet, comedian, or just someone who loves to cheer others on, this evening is all about connection, fun, and creative expression.
What to Expect:
Improv Jam – Jump on stage and play improv games with new friends. No experience necessary—everyone is welcome.
Open Mic – Share a song, poem, stand-up bit, or any short performance piece in a supportive, welcoming space.
Dry Event – This is a dry improv jam—a fun, creative night without alcohol. Let's let improv be the mind-altering substance to help us let loose and have fun. We'll celebrate with optional drinks AFTER the jam at a local Glenwood South bar.
Celebrate the power of play, try something new, and connect with Raleigh’s vibrant creative community!
When: First Friday of each month
Where: Leela Improv Theatre, Raleigh
Who: Open to all – performers, audience, and community members alike
Schedule:
7:00 PM - Sign up for the Community Jam & Open Mic, Mix & Mingle
7:30 PM - Community Jam & Open Mic begins
Check out Mandala Sky, a 25-foot overhead sculpture in Smoky Hollow, made up of more than 400 crocheted mandalas. This colorful and whimsical community art project, sponsored by the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, was created by 30 artists and assemblers, working throughout the summer of 2025. It got off the ground -- literally -- just in time for First Friday in October, and will stay afloat throughout the fall. You can view some individual mandalas close up -- and even get one of your own by donating to the GSNC.
Sustainable Holiday Market and Happy Hour
To celebrate the end of an impactful year, Greenplaces, Better Made Easy, and Raleigh Founded would like to invite you to join us for a Sustainable Holiday Market and Happy Hour. This will be a great chance for us to cheers to the end of a year and help you get some sustainable last minute holiday shopping done!
We’re featuring local, sustainable makers from across the Triangle to display and sell their products, and we will have some holiday themed apps, drinks, and music. Located downtown at Raleigh Founded, you're also only steps away from First Friday!
Date | Friday, December 5
Time | 4:00 — 7:00pm ET
Venue | Raleigh Founded, North Street
Address | 509 W North St Suite 224, Raleigh, NC 27603
There is no fee to attend; however, help us with our catering order by RSVPing by Monday, December 1. Looking forward to seeing you!
We’re manifesting the merriest First Friday yet. Brodie Cormack Band & Annelle Staal Trio are bringing the cheer to the stage, the beer will be flowing like holiday spirit, and The Morning Times Vendor Market will be stocked with giftable goodies and seasonal treats.
No cover, no pressure—just cozy vibes, good music, good drinks, and a perfect excuse to slow down and soak up the sparkle on Hargett Street.
Come sip, shop, and get into the spirit—your December deserves a little magic. 🎄✨
Downtown Raleigh comes to light every holiday season with the Illuminate Art Walk! Since the winter of 2020, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance has brought energy to Fayetteville Street-and beyond–with large-scale, interactive, and light-based art pieces.
Join us for a fun night of strolling, sipping, and admiring these beautiful illuminated art pieces in downtown Raleigh!
This tour is pay-what-you-want and takes place entirely within the downtown Sip n' Stroll District. Advance registration through Eventbrite is REQUIRED. Please click the link in this listing to sign up!
Celebrate the season at Seaboard Station’s Holiday Sip & Stroll + Market!
Join us on Friday, December 5th from 5 PM – 9 PM for a festive evening in the newest Social District at Seaboard Station. Enjoy holiday beverages from participating tenants as you sip your way through the property, then explore our Holiday Market featuring unique gift items, local artists, and artisan vendors. Holiday décor, seasonal music, and plenty of merry moments set the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable night!
Join us for holiday shopping, local flavor, and festive fun for all ages—right here at Seaboard Station.