First Friday Salinas

10/14/2026

We return on November 6th with an evening centered on remembrance, community, and Día de los Mu***os traditions. 🌼💀

Across various areas of Main Street, look for altars, live music, cultural performances, local art, participating businesses, food, and activities throughout the evening.

Come spend the evening downtown, explore what’s happening across the different blocks, and support the artists, performers, organizations, and businesses that make First Friday possible.

🗓️ Friday, November 6
⏰ Starting at 5 PM
📍 100–300 Main St.

Downtown businesses, reminder: let us know what you’ll be offering during First Friday!

Spanish:

Regresamos el 6 de noviembre con una velada dedicada al recuerdo, la comunidad y las tradiciones del Día de los Mu***os. 🌼💀

En diferentes zonas de Main Street, encontrarás altares, música en vivo, presentaciones culturales, arte local, negocios participantes, comida y actividades durante toda la noche.

Ven a pasar la noche en el centro, explora lo que está pasando en las diferentes cuadras y apoya a los artistas, intérpretes, organizaciones y negocios que hacen posible el Primer Viernes.

🗓️ Viernes, noviembre
⏰ A partir de las 5 p. m.
📍 100–300 Main St.

Recordatorio para los negocios del centro: ¡cuéntenos qué van a ofrecer durante el First Friday!

***os

10/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out for October’s First Friday Salinas! 🍂🎶

Main Street was filled with live music, performances, exhibitions, activities, local businesses, and community throughout the evening. Highlights included PARALUMAN in recognition of Filipino American History Month and more across all three blocks.

Thank you to our performers, participating businesses, artists, community partners, and everyone who spent their Friday evening with us.

We’ll see you again on November 6th! 🎨

10/01/2026

Costumes, creativity, and prizes are coming to First Friday Salinas on October 2nd! 🎃🎨

Come dressed up this Friday and stop by the Community Care Zone at the CHISPA Courtyard to receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes, including an art kit provided by First Friday Salinas and Arts4MC. 💜

While you’re downtown, explore local shops, artists, vendors, live music, and more throughout the Salinas City Center. See you starting at 5 PM! 👻✨

10/01/2026

First Friday Salinas returns on October 2 with a fall-inspired lineup of live music, performances, exhibitions, activities, and local businesses throughout Downtown Salinas! 🍂🎶

The evening begins at 5 PM. See what is happening across all three blocks:

📍 100 Block

Performances:
- 5 PM: DJ Loloh kicks off the PARALUMAN Takeover at One Main Street
- 5:45 PM: Nate Napolitano
- 6 PM: Junelle Aubrey Geli
- 6:30 PM: Diosa Abellana
- 6:45 PM: Aliana Sanders
- 7 PM: Nicko Virgo
- 7:15 PM: Philos
- 7:30 PM: Oreez
- 7:45 PM: Joey the Prophet
- 8 PM: DJ Amoure
- 5 PM: Beats and open cypher presented by Radio Bilingüe
- 6 PM: Alisal Center for the Fine Arts student performances near Villa Azteca, 161 Main Street

More to explore:
- 5 PM: Hartnell College Foundation K–12 STEAM Program activities in Taylor Farms Area
- 5 PM: Apotheca hosting tarot card reading
- 6 PM: XL Public House art show featuring Retro and artwork by Basic Lee, with music by The Essence

📍 200 Block

Performances:
- 5 PM: CHISPA Showcase at the CHISPA Courtyard
- 6 PM: Brew’s Blues Band at 201 Main Restaurant & Bar, with happy hour beginning at 5 PM

Exhibitions, activities, and pop-ups:
- 5 PM: Community Care Zone at the CHISPA Courtyard with local resources, games, and activities
- 5 PM: ArtWorks Salinas Opening Artist Reception featuring with music
- 5 PM: Salinas Valley Art Gallery reception with artwork, refreshments and artists
- 5 PM: Alliance on Aging Art Activity

📍 300 Block

Performances and activities:
- 5 PM: Danza Azteca IN IXTLI IN YOLLOTL at the Arts4MC Stage and 300 Block Plaza
- 5 PM: MILPA Collective’s Noche de Artesanos in front of Cherry Bean Roasting Company

🎃 Come dressed for the season and stop by the CHISPA Courtyard to receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win an art kit!

Local shops, restaurants, galleries, and pop-ups will also be open throughout the evening. Bring your friends and family and kick off October in Downtown Salinas! 🛍️

09/29/2026

We spoke with Keylin Figueroa, Communications Coordinator II at MILPA Collective, to learn more about their work and the activities they have planned for October. 👀

Find them and other community organizations throughout Downtown Salinas on Friday, October 2, from 5 PM. Will there be Día de los Mu***os-inspired activities? Watch to find out! 🎨💀

***os

09/29/2026

A look back at September’s First Friday Salinas! 🎨

Downtown Salinas came together for the closing of Alebrijes & Nahuales, the final viewing of the special mini exhibition at One Main Street, live performances, local businesses, art, and more throughout Main Street. ✨

Now, we’re getting ready to welcome a new month this Friday, October 2, with fall, Halloween-inspired activities, and Día de los Mu***os traditions beginning to make their way downtown. 🍂🌻

09/19/2026

First Friday Salinas is getting ready for spooky season! 🎃

Join us Friday, October 2, from 5 PM – 8 PM in Downtown Salinas for an evening inspired by Halloween and the fall season. 👻

Expect local art, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, small businesses, and more throughout downtown. 💀

Remember, downtown businesses, tag so we can highlight what you have planned! Send us your event details and any additional information you would like us to share!

Spanish:

¡First Friday Salinas se prepara para la temporada de Halloween! 🎃

Acompáñanos el viernes 2 de octubre, de 5 PM a 8 PM, en el centro de Salinas para disfrutar de una velada inspirada en Halloween y el otoño. 👻

Te esperan arte local, espectáculos en directo, actividades para toda la familia, pequeños comercios y mucho más por todo el centro de la ciudad. 💀

Recuerda, comercios del centro: ¡etiquetad a para que podamos destacar lo que tenéis planeado! ¡Enviadnos los detalles de vuestro evento y cualquier información adicional que queráis que compartamos!

First Friday Salinas is a monthly tradition designed to transform Downtown into a consistent, positive space for community and culture to thrive.

09/02/2026

A new lineup of art, music, and community experiences is coming to First Friday Salinas on September 4! 🍂

Explore Downtown Salinas for the closing of Alebrijes & Nahuales: Fantastic Animals from Mexico, live performances, gallery receptions, local food, shopping, and more!

📍 100 Block

Alebrijes & Nahuales Closing Celebration at One Main Street, 4 PM to 8 PM
- 4 PM to 6 PM: Community and Artist Experience featuring artist organization tables, the Small Alebrijes Exhibition curated by JC Gonzalez of Urban Arts Collective, more than 100 student-created Alebrijes, and free children’s activities hosted by the Hartnell College Foundation
- 4 PM to 5 PM: Salinas High School Jazz Band in the Rotunda
- 5 PM to 6 PM: Artists Ink student recognition, Brush War Final Competition, and live artist showcase in Gallery II
- 5 PM to 6 PM: Guelaguetza Salinas outdoor cultural performance
- 6 PM to 6:30 PM: Closing Ceremony - artist acknowledgments, closing remarks, and Brush War winner announcement in the Salinas Room
- 6:30 PM to 8 PM: Live music by Qiensave

More to explore:
- 6 PM: XL Public House art exhibition featuring Mellamo Name, with music selections by Lombris
- Apotheca offering Virgo season gifts, candles, crystals, books, tarot items, and more

📍 200 Block

Performances:
- 5 PM to 8 PM: Community Care Zone at the CHISPA Courtyard
- 5 PM to 8 PM: ArtWorks Salinas First Friday Artist Reception featuring a Cuatro Amores Bakehouse pop-up
- 5 PM to 8 PM: Salinas Valley Art Gallery Featured Artist Exhibition featuring Ruth Carroll
- 5 PM to 8 PM: Alliance on Aging art activity
- 5 PM to 8 PM: Sweet Reba’s special promotions
- 6 PM to 9 PM: Live music at 201 Main Restaurant & Bar
- 7 PM: The Beerded Bean Open Mic Night

📍 300 Block
- 5 PM to 8 PM: MILPA’s monthly Noche de Artesanos in front of Cherry Bean Roasting Company
- Monterey Bay FC in front of Alvarado on Main

Performances and activities:
- 5 PM to 8 PM: Vida Dance Co. line dancing, salsa, bachata instruction, and dance social

🛍️ Visit local businesses will also be open throughout the evening!

Bring your friends and family for an evening of art, culture, music, and community in the heart of Salinas. 🎶🖌️

First Friday Salinas is a monthly tradition designed to transform Downtown into a consistent, positive space for community and culture to thrive.

08/27/2026

There’s always something to discover around Downtown Salinas during First Friday! 🛍️

Along the way, you may come across pop-up vendors bringing handmade goods, jewelry, treats, creative finds, and more. Swipe through to see some of the pop-ups we’ve welcomed, including Corazon Aventurero, Blue Heron Artistic Design, Meli Made It, Make it Dulce at XL Public House, Britt’s Permanent Jewelry, Third Eye Trees, Crafting Universe, and Andrea’s Closet. ✨

The pop-up lineup can vary from month to month, so come see who you’ll find next. 👀 See you at First Friday Salinas on September 4 from 5–8 PM!

08/25/2026

We’re looking for volunteers to join us at the next First Friday Salinas on October 2! 🙌

Help us welcome the community, support activities throughout Downtown Salinas, and be part of an evening that brings people together through local arts and culture.

📅 Every First Friday
⏰ Volunteer shifts: 4:00–8:30 PM
📍 Downtown Salinas

Sign up at bit.ly/volunteerffs

Questions? Contact Paola at [email protected]