During my first semester as a transfer student, one of the first events that my friends took me to was First Friday. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was much more fun than I thought. Surprisingly, not many people know what it is, and even most of those who know have not gone. So, here’s why you should go!
As the name suggests, First Friday is a festival that happens on the first Friday of every month at the Railroad Square Art District from 6 to 9 p.m. While I found out about it through my friends, the Art District website lists all of their upcoming events and provides more information.
When I said that I didn’t know what to expect when it came to the festival, I wasn’t kidding. I was surprised by the amount of unique and creative businesses there. One night is not enough to explore the entirety of it well.
The first place I explored was the thrift store that’s right by the entrance. It’s a big warehouse divided into two sections: home goods and clothes. Just a warning: It can be a little overwhelming, but there are so many good finds that make it worth it.
Another place I explored at the festival was a bookstore, but not just any typical bookstore. It’s filled with shelves of used books, has a cute little boutique, and is home to a bunch of adorable cats. So not only do you get to shop, but you also get to hang out with cute cats! The best part is that the cats are all up for adoption, so if you want to give them a loving home, you absolutely can.
Besides thrift stores and cat bookstores, there are various food places. When I went, I only tried one place called Ryders Water Ice. It was the first time that I’d ever heard about water ice, but it was utterly delicious. It’s like the love child between ice cream and a slushie. That’s it. That’s the best way I can describe it. The place has so many flavors: I tried green apple, mango, and strawberry lemonade; they were all incredible. Now, I go to First Friday mainly to eat their water ice.
First Friday offers many diverse businesses and activities, such as a cult cinema, non-profit theatre, and art galleries. I’ve even seen a stand where people can go and speak with scientists. There’s a little bit of everything. It’s also super fun to observe people there. So many of them slay with their outfits, so I like to look around and get fashion inspiration from them. I just think that it’s such a relaxed event where you get to feel comfortable expressing yourself however you want.
I feel like all of us who live in Tallahassee can agree that there aren’t a huge amount of things to do here. Activities can become routine very easily and it can get boring pretty fast. That’s why you should grab some friends and break the routine by going to First Friday. Explore something unique, support your local businesses, and have fun!
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