Enjoy First Friday Shopping Experience in Downtown Alton

Our Daily Show Interview! Alton Main Street Ready for First Fridays- This Friday!

ALTON - Community members are invited to downtown Alton for the First Friday shopping experience.

From 5–8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, downtown shops will stay open later and a shuttle will be available to transport participants to stores and restaurants throughout the downtown district. Alton Main Street organizes the First Friday events. Executive Director Sara McGibany encouraged people to shop local as the holidays approach, highlighting opportunities on First Friday and Small Business Saturday.

“Forget about Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Let’s focus all of our energy on local this year,” McGibany said. “Amazon is not going to miss your orders this year if you decide to put just a little extra effort in. Honestly, convenience is not always king. When you are wanting to build a community that you want to live in, you want to have those little mom-and-pop shops.”

This year’s participating shops include Mooneyham Art, Funky Planet Toys & Gifts, Jacoby Fine Violins, Persnickety by Jen Farley, Honeybee Vintage LLC, Elysian Gallery, Jacoby Arts Center, Terrace Dispensary, Picture This & More, Nside the Box, Country Meadows, Bluff City Bazaar, Flock Food Truck Park & Bar, Uncle Jeff’s Tshirts, The Conservatory, Coco+Oak, Plant Em, Mississippi Hippie/Mom Said No, 1904 General Store, and Suzy Q's Design and Finds.

These shops will offer a variety of discounts, refreshments and specials for shoppers to enjoy. When you make a purchase, you will have your passport stamped for the chance to win a $100 gift certificate to any participating business. There is also a “Where’s Wadlow” statuette hidden in one of the stores; whoever finds it will win a $100 gift certificate.

McGibany encourages shoppers to park at Flock and jump on the shuttle, which will make a continuous loop between locations until 8 p.m. Jacoby’s Fine Violins will also “keep the party going” with a band until 9 p.m. on Nov. 7.

She expressed her appreciation for the business owners who have been working hard to promote one another, highlighting this collaboration as a great asset to the community.

“It really feels like everybody is pulling in the same direction these days,” she said. “People don’t view one another as competitors. Everybody is just of the mind that it’s better if everyone collaborates. There are constantly business owners promoting their neighbors.”

McGibany also spoke about the renaissance of downtown Alton. She pointed out that the district has welcomed over ten new businesses in the past few years in addition to the staples that have been downtown for decades. She hopes to see many people come out on First Friday to support these businesses and experience everything downtown Alton has to offer.

“We are experiencing a boom downtown,” she added. “We hear comments and news articles and stuff about how downtown is on the decline and it’s dying. I’m here to tell you that is absolutely the opposite of what is happening. We are having a resurgence.”

The year’s final First Friday will take place on Dec. 5, 2025. For more information about Nov. 7 First Friday, visit the official Facebook event page. To learn more about Alton Main Street, check out their official website at DowntownAlton.com.

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