First Friday in Boulder County, art gallery events and exhibits
Boulder County comes alive every first Friday of the month, as downtown streets, historic neighborhoods and the NoBo district transform into open‑air galleries and maker markets. From early evening music to late‑night studio tours, the city‑wide celebration offers a free, family‑friendly way to meet the region’s most inventive artists and creators.
In north Boulder, the NoBo Art District First Friday Art Walk stretches along Broadway from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring rotating shows at the NoBo Art Center and Bus Stop Gallery. This week the street‑artist known as SMiLE debuts a new solo show, The Other Side, inviting visitors into a world of mystery and imagination. Downtown Boulder’s walk, anchored at The New Local, kicks off at 4 p.m. with gallery receptions, maker demos, live sets from the Roots Music Project, and quirky pop‑ups like 5‑minute doodle portraits by Emma Friday.
Longmont’s First Friday Makers Market takes over 4th Avenue from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., where artisans sell handmade jewelry, fine art and crafts amid live music, food trucks and a western‑themed “Boots & Brews” dress code. The market’s dog‑friendly atmosphere and street games make it a lively gathering spot for the whole community.
Beyond the walks, a slate of gallery exhibitions adds depth to the month’s offerings. Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art presents Tres Voces, Un Corazón, a family‑focused trio of works, while its BMoCA at Frasier space showcases Uncanny Ecologies by Kevin Oehler. The Canyon Theater and Gallery runs Bright Eyes, Dark Skies, watercolor visions of Colorado’s dark‑sky preserves, and Bus Stop Gallery hosts SMiLE’s show. Smaller venues such as Kin Studio, The Crowd Collective, and Messenger Gallery also feature solo shows and thematic group projects, ensuring that every art lover can find a corner of Boulder County to explore this First Friday.