First Friday celebrates basketball, local artists in downtown

This article is brought to you by Freedom Financial.

The Kokomo Downtown District kicked off the 2025 First Friday season on March 7 with “Hoop It Up,” a celebration of the Kokomo BobKats professional basketball team and local artists.

The chilly weather kept the crowds indoors this time around, as few attractions were unveiled on the sidewalks around the courthouse square. But there was plenty of hustle and bustle taking place inside downtown businesses.

BobKats players tried their hand at making friendship bracelets and designs for leather patches, showing off their artistic talents alongside local kids who were excited for the opportunity to meet the athletes. There also was a little basketball taking place here and there, to no one’s surprise.

The Kokomo Downtown District will hold a First Friday event each month from March to December, inviting the community to gather in the city’s center for fun activities, great food, unique shopping opportunities, and a variety of entertainment. July’s First Friday coincides with the Haynes-Apperson Festival and has no planned event.

The April First Friday takes place on Fri., April 4, with a “Go Green” theme. Participants will enjoy eco-friendly fun and nature-inspired activities in celebration of Earth Month. Each event runs from 5:30-8 p.m., before giving way to First Friday After Hours for more adult entertainment.

The remainder of the 2025 First Friday schedule looks like this:

May 2: Art Task! — Unleash your creativity with an artsy evening of hands-on projects, guided by local artists and creative businesses.

June 6: Strawberry Festival and Artsapalooza Art Market (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) — Kick off summer in the sweetest way with a refreshing strawberry shortcake dessert and a vibrant art market to explore!

August 1: Get Schooled! — Show your school spirit while you learn something new about art, Kokomo, and other cool subjects!

September 5: Art Walk — Stroll through Kokomo’s vibrant art scene and solve an artistic mystery along the way.

October 3: Masquerade — Dress for a costume party filled with spooky fun, treats, tricks, and plenty of surprises!

November 7: Shop & Stroll — Spend the evening exploring downtown’s unique shops and venues to start your holiday shopping.

December 5: Ugly Sweater — Don your quirkiest, coziest sweater and join the holiday fun in the most wonderfully ugly style!

See additional photos from First Friday on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.