Alton’s ‘First Fridays’ late night art, shopping experience continues on Nov. 7

Alton Main Street presents First Fridays, a late night art and shopping experience which spans 20 locations across the Downtown Alton district.

The series continues this Friday, Nov. 7.

This series is held on First Fridays in October, November and December, providing shoppers with an opportunity to check out new shops and galleries and visit familiar favorites to experience art and great specials at each business.

Participants are offering a variety of discounts, refreshments, and giveaways. Every time you make a purchase you’ll have your passport stamped for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to any participating business.

Free parking is available in the lot next to FLOCK Food Truck Park & Bar, located in Alton at 210 Ridge Street, and a free shuttle bus will be provided from 5 to 8 p.m., running a continuous loop between all participating locations.

On Friday, Nov. 7, start your evening by picking up your First Fridays passport at any participating location, then hop on the shuttle or walk your way around the downtown district, gathering stamps on your passport along your journey.

Begin your adventure with a beverage or a snack to fuel your shopping excursion. Hit one of the food trucks down at FLOCK Food Truck Park & Bar and enjoy $2 off Specialty Cocktails, plus enjoy a special on gift cards – when you buy $25 you’ll get $5 extra. Downtown Alton’s resident art bar, The Conservatory, filled with the “KOOL” work of Michael Snider’s Kooliverse, will also be a shuttle stop and will offer happy hour drink specials for a perfect location to end your evening.

At retailer Coco+Oak on 3rd Street, shoppers of trendy outfits and accessories can grab a free tote bag with a $50 purchase. Then check out Persnickety by Jen Farley’s new larger location at 413 East Broadway and receive an entry for a drawing for a $50 Posey Pass for every $50 spent during the event.

Terrace Cannabis will also be on the shuttle loop and shoppers ages 21+ can enjoy 20 percent off any purchase of $25 or more (be sure to bring your I.D.).

At Country Meadows Antiques, guests will enjoy refreshments and special discounts while they check out dozens of vendors inside the resale space. And at Picture This & More, enter to win their giveaway and grab a snack to keep going while perusing their collection of local art and custom frames. Neighbor ‘Nside the Box will gladly accept your food pantry donation – bring an item & you’ll receive a free gift, plus they’re offering holiday sale items.

Downtown Alton’s newest art stop Elysian Gallery, inside Mineral Springs, will be offering sweet treats and non-alcoholic beverages, a free branded coffee mug with every $50 purchase, plus a raffle for a $200 gift card. Down the street at Funky Planet Toys & Gifts, shoppers can check items off the holiday gift list for kids of all ages while getting registered for a raffle to win free stuff.

At Uncle Jeff’s T-Shirts you’ll find all kinds of creative, hilarious, and sometimes cheeky wearables – order a hoodie the night of the event and you’ll save $10.

Alton favorite Honeybee Vintage is wooing shoppers with 10 percent off storewide and, just a stop away, is 1904 General Store who’s staying open late and offering 30 percent off any merchandise. Mom can’t really tell you no when you can save 10 percent storewide at both Mississippi Hippie and Mom Said No! You’ll also receive a free gift with a $100 purchase.

Jacoby Fine Violins will be open and welcoming guests with 15 percent off any instrument in the shop, plus live music from Neil Salsich and Gerard Erker of the Mighty Pines starting at 6 p.m. Stop in Mooneyham Art to shop a wide variety of local artists’ work plus enjoy some refreshments. And Plant Em is entering shoppers into a Pink Princess Philodendron raffle. Each plant purchased gets you a raffle ticket.

November also adds a new shop to the fun: Newcomer Suzy Q’s Designs and Finds joins the loop at her shop at 303 Ridge with $10 off a $50 or more purchase. Be sure to stop and check out what this new thrift shop has to offer.

Jacoby Arts Center is hosting an appreciation event for the community that supported their recent move, so stop in for treats and take in the local art exhibit. Bring a non-perishable food item to drop in their collection box in exchange for a passport stamp. Then, right around the corner, drop into Bluff City Bazaar, where shoppers can make their own beeswax ornament with Crystal from Flourish Farmstead and enter for a chance to win a prize basket filled with art supplies.

Keep an eye out for “Where’s Wadlow?”, a 14-inch wooden figurine of Robert Wadlow styled as the familiar Where’s Waldo? character which is hidden at one of the locations. Find him to win a $100 gift certificate to any participating location.

Mark your calendar for the final date in the series on Dec. 5.

For more information on the many ways that Alton Main Street is working to enhance and promote Alton’s historic downtown district, visit www.DowntownAlton.com.