For Artists + Performers
Calling all artists, performers, musicians, and makers!
First Friday Art Crawls give you the opportunity to participate in art vending each month in the heart of Downtown Boone! Registration is open all year long, but we highly encourage early registration so you get in on these opportunities each month.
Important: Registration is required to participate. Registration is completed once per year. To take part in your first art crawl, you must register at least two weeks before the event.
About one week prior to each art crawl, WAC staff will email registered participants with event details and participation guidelines.
How it works
-
Review the First Friday vending policies carefully.
There have been several major changes this year, and the policies likely address many of your questions!
-
Fill out and submit your registration form! ($60)
This is an annual registration form, meaning you only need to fill it once a year!
-
You’re in!
After submitting your registration, you are officially considered a 2026 First Friday Art Crawl Participant.
WAC will be in touch with event details shortly. Stay tuned to learn more about participation and event details!
-
By becoming a First Friday Art Crawl participant, you receive the following benefits:
Promotion by WAC through our website, newsletters, social media, and occasional press releases
A vendor package that includes all Town-required materials, so you don’t have to source them yourself!
Opportunities to sell or perform during busy downtown evenings!
Designated vendor parking at the public library!
Access to WAC rentals to support a successful event (limited availability of carts, tables and tablecloths, handwarmers, and printing services)
Improved downtown signage to increase visibility and foot traffic
Extended vending hours this year, from 4-8 pm (previously 5-8 pm)
Other opportunities, including Saturday markets, indoor vending, and more!
For Businesses + Organizations
Are you a downtown business or organization that regularly hosts events for First Friday? Are you wanting to promote those events to a larger audience? Register with us as a First Friday host!
Here’s how it works:
Complete the one-time General Registration form.
Submit your First Friday event details each month through the Event Info form.
By becoming a First Friday Art Crawl host, WAC will promote your submitted events during each promotional cycle leading up to First Fridays. Your events will then be able to reach a wider audience, helping you attract more visitors and boost engagement. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your events and be part of this vibrant community celebration!
Please note: For guaranteed promotion, event details are due by the Thursday one week before the First Friday you’re hosting an event for.
Want greater visibility? Explore our program-specific sponsorship opportunities and enjoy exclusive VIP perks!
-
The Watauga Arts Council has an extensive reach through our social media channels and newsletter, connecting with over 7k followers across Facebook and Instagram and reaching more than 3.2k newsletter subscribers with an above-average open rate. First Friday promotions are also shared collaboratively with Downtown Boone’s social media channels (over 21k followers on Instagram), further extending the reach of participating events.
Registering as a host gives you the opportunity to share and promote your event with a broader audience, helping more people discover your organization and what you have to offer. It’s a win-win!
-
No, Registering as a First Friday host does not currently require a fee, but there are add-ons you can choose from when you submit your event via the monthly form. These add ons include exclusive promotion and promotional image creation.
-
The General Registration form is a one-time submission that allows us to collect your business or organization’s basic contact information, logo, and other essentials. It only needs to be updated if your contact details change.
The Event Details form is to be filled out monthly, providing us with specific information about each of your First Friday events so we can promote them accurately each cycle. We recommend bookmarking this particular form, though it will also be emailed monthly to those who submit their General Registration form.
-
Yes! For our newsletters, we often tag in a ‘Beyond’ section towards the bottom, allowing subscribers to see what is happening throughout the weekend directly following a First Friday. If you have multiple events to submit, please submit a form for each.
-
For a single month’s First Friday, you can submit up to 3 events. These events can be ones taking place on a First Friday, or the Saturday and/or Sunday following it.
-
If you don't have a photo to promote your event, you have two options:
Submit your logo: Either upload it on the Event Details form, or we’ll use the logo submitted with your General Registration form.
Request a promotional graphic: For a $35 fee, click the “Make a promotional graphic for me!” option on the Event Details form. WAC will create a custom graphic based on your event details, with full creative control. This graphic cannot be edited after completion.
-
Please reach out to Krista, our Operations Manager, via email if you have any questions or concerns.