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!

APRIL 2026
  • Artists’ Shop (127 N. Higgins): Opening reception for Ca va bien, Ca va mal by Hez Lepp. Functional and decorative ceramics are adorned with whimsical flowers which explores the humor between opposite emotions. Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Boone & Crockett Club (250 Station Dr.): Come check out the Boone and Crockett gallery, located at 250 Station Drive, Missoula, Montana 59802! Let us know you saw this ad and receive a free decal package! Gallery open 9am – 4pm.
  • Calypso Sandwich Shop (311 E. Front): Chloe Buising will be back at the shop selling Montana nature inspired artwork. Event runs 5-7:30pm.
  • Confluence Center (119 W. Main): For the month of April we are proud to present the special group exhibit A Handful of Earth by Montana Indigenous artists. From documenting the beautiful land we live on and must preserve, to ruminations on family and ancestry, to capturing day to day life with the people around us, this exhibit is full of beauty and power, inviting the viewer to find peace in an ever-challenging world. Featuring live music by music duo Mad Sea. Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Cranky Sam Public House (233 W. Main): Live music from Kelley Sinclair and art from John Piacquadio. Open from 11am-10pm.
  • Engle & Volkers Western Frontier (321 N. Higgins): Hosting Garden City Harvest where they’ll be celebrating 30 years of Missoula-grown food and community with some Bernice’s Bakery mini cupcakes and First Friday fun! ⁠A live painter will also be on site. Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Fact & Fiction (220 N. Higgins): Fact & Fiction’s 40th Birthday Party SAVE THE DATE!!! Dear Reader, Fact & Fiction is turning 40 this year and we are going to party like it’s 1986! We’ll be celebrating with alumni booksellers, prizes and giveaways, cake, snacks, beverages, and general levity. 80’s attire is encouraged! So: get out the Aqua Net, neon, power suits, leg warmers, acid washed denim, and spandex- whether you are metal, new wave, pop, or preppy, we hope to see you on the 3rd! Event runs 6-9pm.
  • FMC Books (123 W. Main): Julie LaFromboise is a born-and-raised Missoulian, a devoted mom of three, and a preschool teacher who has spent more than 22 years nurturing young minds in our community. In February 2025, she was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer and has since stepped away from teaching while undergoing aggressive treatment. Through it all, Julie continues to find joy and strength through painting. We are honored to feature Julie as FMC Books’ Artist of the Month for April and will celebrate her work with an open house during First Friday. Proceeds from artwork sold will help support Julie and her family during this time. 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.
  • Imagination Station (): Featuring art from UCCC Preschool. Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Import Market (201 W. Broadway): Visit Horse Teeth Gallery on the top floor! First Friday happenings 5-8pm.
  • Kettlehouse Brewing Co. (605 Cold Smoke Ave – Bonner): Studio M Pint Night Fundraiser at the Kettlehouse Brewing Co! $1/pint supports the Competition Team, Raffle Baskets will be present as well! Event runs 4-8pm.
  • 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. Come on in to the Leaf and Quiet plant shop where we 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: Local Missoula Walking Tours offers 50% off historic downtown audio tours on First Fridays. Grab your charged cell phone and headphones and follow Missoula’s evolution from a rough trading post to the lively cultural hub it is today. You’ll meet founders, rivals, madams, railroad workers, and visionaries; explore architectural gems like the Florence Hotel and the historic railroad depots; and cross the Clark Fork with a view of Brennan’s Wave. From free-speech battles to “Gasoline Alley” to the iconic M on Mount Sentinel, this walk brings Missoula’s stories to life. Visit localmissoulatours.com to book your half-off audio tour, or call 406-304-7241 for details, or email [email protected] for more information!
  • Missoula Art Museum (335 N. Pattee): Join MAM for April First Friday as exhibiting artists Aspen and Cameron Decker open their exhibition Q??eyq??ay ‘Buffalo’ is Our Good Medicine in the Lynda Frost Gallery. The evening includes an artist talk at 5:30 pm with live music by the Lo Horgan Siegel Trio. Event runs 5-7pm.
  • Missoula Children’s Theatre (200 N. Adams): MCT Youth Series: Seussical KIDS. Seussical KIDS Production Class is for students in 3rd-8th grade. Performances for the “Blue Fish” cast are Friday, April 3 at 7PM and Saturday, April 4 at 5PM and 7PM.
  • Missoula Symphony Association (200 N. Higgins): Missoula Symphony will be hosting Opportunity Resources‘ Artists of Opportunity, connecting the visual arts and musical arts. Framed artwork and pottery will be for sale. Don’t miss a special performance by EMpower Voices too! Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Montana Museum of Art & Culture (795 S. 5th St. W): Come celebrate our LGBTQ heritage at the MMAC in a community wide open house and reception. In conjunction with the exhibition, the MMAC welcomes you to hear guest speaker Senator Diane Sands, Representative Zooey Zephyr, and Missoula Pride organizer and UM Director of New Student Success Devin Carpenter, who will address topics including the rich legacy of LGBTQ members of our community. Presentations start at 6:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served. Event runs 5-7pm.
  • Pearl Boba Tea (420 N. Higgins): We will be staying open an hour later to host the Missoula Moonlight Market at 5 vendors in our shop. Come for food, fun and connection! Open 11am – 8pm, market runs 5-8pm.
  • Residence Inn (125 N. Pattee): Street Dog Coalition Pint Night. $1 per beer and $2 per cocktail or glass of wine donated to the Street Dog Coalition. Event runs 4 – 10:30pm.
  • Radius Gallery (120 N. Higgins): Join us for a First Friday opening reception of Folk(ish), an exhibit that brings a contemporary twist to folk art. Open 11am – 8pm; event runs 5-8pm.
  • The Badlander (208 Ryman): Elephant Gerald Productions proudly presents the debut performance of Elephant Gerald’s High Noon Swing Band! A brand-new country-jazz project built for dancing, swingin’, and wide-open Montana nights. Expect driving rhythms, high-energy improvisation, and a dance floor ready to move from the first downbeat to the last call. Event runs 7-10pm.
  • The Clay Studio of Missoula (1106 Hawthorne): Experience the remarkable artwork featured in the Potsketch 2026 Auction. This year’s exhibition showcases Potsketches by an outstanding roster of local artists, including Stella Nall, Jennifer Leutzinger, Leslie Van Stavern Millar, and many more. Closing reception event runs 5-8pm.
  • The Old Post (103 W. Spruce):  Music by Best Intentions. Starts at 8pm.
  • The Roxy Theater (718 S. Higgins): The International Wildlife Film Festival is opening the Wildlife Art Gallery in the Roxy Lounge, ahead of the week-long festival beginning April 18th. Featuring wildlife-centric work by artists Julia LaTray, Kaitlynn Radloff, Jonathan Marquis, James Newstrom, and more! Event runs 5-8pm.
  • Zootown Arts Community Center (216 W. Main): Three great First Friday choices: #1: opening of A Natural History of the Wind by Jacob Cowgill; event runs 5-8pm. #2: opening of Stories that I Carry by Aiyona Brodie; event runs 5-8pm. #3: The School of Music and the School of Theatre and Dance are proud to present Rubber Soul Reimagined in The Show Room of the Zootown Arts Community Center. Staged performance of the iconic 1965 Beatles album, considered by many to be the band’s first masterpiece. This seminal group of songs, comprising the Beatles’ sixth studio release, is full of innovative musicianship, deep lyrics, and indelible melodies. Tickets required. Showtimes Fri. April 3 @ 7:30pm, Sat. April 4 @ 7:30pm, Sun. April 5 @ 2:00pm.
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.