First Friday Las Vegas Space Theme in May

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First Friday Las Vegas, the largest arts and culture festival in the Western United States, has become the leader for family-friendly activities, art, cultural enrichment, educational efforts, imagination, community and more; mostly low cost or free of cost, for every age.

On Friday, May 2, First Friday will have visitors seeing stars with an outer space-themed event featuring a variety of cosmic programming including specially designed installations, documentary screenings, entertainment and other family-friendly activities.

First Friday revelers will get a dose of astronomy mixed with art as they walk through a to-scale representation of our solar system displayed linearly along Casino Center within the First Friday footprint. With the earth represented as a peppercorn and 26 yards away from the sun, or in this case a ball 8-inches in diameter, one can truly get a proper perspective of earth’s role in relation to the rest of the solar system.

Event-goers can also enjoy the Carl Sagan’s inspired, Emmy-winning 13-part series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.” “Powers of Ten” by Charles and Ray Eames, explores the relative scale of the universe, from the earth to the universe and back to a single atom, and will be shown multiple times throughout the event. Both screenings will be located at Colorado and Main

This First Friday, the Kids Zone has a special educational focus with the National Park Services for Science and Technology Fest. Kids and parents can participate in hands-on night sky and astronomy activities, as well as a solar system art activity. Smokey the Bear will be on hand for photos and also show how the Earth is impacted by fire. Kids can also see Mojave Max, a desert tortoise and a shark from Shark Reef care of the Cambridge Rec Center.

First Friday visitors are encouraged to visit the Think Safe space featuring a safety information and entertainment. Look Out Kids will speak and provide information about the importance of bike safety, while a representative from the Water District informs the public not only how crucial water conservation is to Las Vegas, but also how to be safe through the summer months. Think Safe will also feature telescopes and entertainment by the Silver State String Band and Sugar Stack, along with various kids groups.

North of Charleston, there will plenty of opportunities to see live music at Artifice and Bar + Bistro and teens attendees can dance at the Shuffle Zone, behind Art Square, featuring DJs and electronic music all night.

FIRST FRIDAY LAS VEGAS HIGHLIGHTS:

ARTS DISTRICT

Location: Casino Center and Colorado Ave.

Art Style: Emerging and established artists, arts, crafts

Art Row is located on Casino Center between Colorado and Charleston, showcasing works by emerging Las Vegas artists. The Bazaar, located in the lot on the southwest corner of Casino Center and California offers arts and crafts from over 40 vendors. Live performances will be taking place all night on The Hub stage, featuring Joshua Bledsoe, Josh LaCount, Jill & Julia, Pyro Saga, No Carrier and Flameology.

KidZone 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. is the place for fun activities specifically for little First Friday enthusiasts. Lug Vegas returns First Friday with a space-themed Lego building station. Paws For Friendship Las Vegas, a nonprofit organization offering animal therapy programs to those in need, returns are bringing two ferrets for kids to play with and learn the valuable lesson of how animals can heal. Receive free lessons in dance from Kravenko Dance Academy. Kids can play with animals looking for a good home with The Animal Foundation, make art and listen to live music.

Green Street is the place where First Friday patrons can learn about spreading the love to the environment through multiple vendors and a great place to hang out, listen to music, make friends and get green. This May, Green Street features Tree of Life, a giant interactive LED tree by Josh Hester. Savers, the Clean Energy Project, Ecova, the NV Energy Project and doTERRA will spread the word on green business practices, while ProgressNow Nevada will be on site to provide voting education, fair employment and the environment. Visitors to Green Street can also see the KLAS/8 News Now “green screen” and see Sparkey, the Retrofitted Mustang and a Chevy Volt from the NV Electric Vehicle Accelerator.

Cowtown New for May, Cowtown joins First Friday with musical performances at 6 p.m. with Ben Thihub & Friends and Mr. & Mrs. Phelps of Frank Zappa’s Bass Player Project at 8 p.m. At 9:30 p.m., Cowtown will host a special jam session to end the evening. Cowtown also features a Helldorado Jail, Touch of Rodeo and gardening education with the Agriculture Department and UNCE.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

PARKING/SHUTTLES:

Shuttle service will run from 4:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Four Open Top Sightseeing Shuttles, two Celebrity Coaches and an additional handicap equipped shuttle will make a constant loop around the entire event route.

For Handicap Transportation to event, please call: 702-736-6491

There will be ample free parking as well as $5 parking lots.

**If you park in unauthorized parking areas, you may be subject to towing.

Fremont Route Shuttle Stops:

* El Cortez- pick up and drop off on 6th St. across from the El Cortez valet entrance

* Arts District Hub at Colorado and Main

Government Center Route Shuttle Stops:

* Government Center

* Arts District Hub at Colorado and Main

GENERAL INFORMATION

For more information on First Friday Las Vegas, please check the website www.firstfridaylasvegas.com.

ABOUT FIRST FRIDAY LAS VEGAS

First Friday Las Vegas has been a mainstay of arts and culture in downtown Las Vegas for eleven years. In 2011, the arts and culture festival welcomed a new ownership group, First Friday Las Vegas, LLC, comprised of Zappos.com executives Tony Hsieh, Fred Mossler and Steve Hill, as well as downtown developer Andrew Donner and executive producer Joey Vanas. The outdoor event which averages 20,000 patrons each month features several areas throughout Downtown Las Vegas like KidZone, Green Street, The Hub Stage and Shuffle Zone that showcase artists of all calibers and genres. Stages throughout the festival feature live music, food vendors and food trucks offer the finest in cuisine and other celebratory events each month are always working to build community in Las Vegas.