First Fridays downtown, like it or hate it?

I hate First Fridays downtown. BTW First Fridays for those who don't know is held every first Friday of the month.

1) the parking lots downtown gets filled to capacity
2) access to the FSE gets restricted (ie, Metro cops and security personnel positioned at entry points)
3) traffic once took almost 1 hour driving from Downtown Grand to Plaza. I should have walked but once stuck in that traffic it was a journey to no where.
4) not sure how much the admission charge to get in but one time I turned around and declined to enter.

I'm curious to hear others responses about First Fridays.

 

I have been a few times. I was staying in one of the downtown hotels, so it's not too bad. the gung-ho morons that are working security can be the most annoying part. also, when it is elbow to elbow -- cheek to cheek, you really got to watch out for thieves. I always feel the need to check my pockets after constantly getting bumped into. I will be there first Friday of May this year.

 

BTW, it beats the hell out of the Fridays here in the Midwest!!

 

I prefer the other Fridays.

 

I'm going to be there for SB weekend. Was thinking of going downtown Friday, Feb. 3.
Do you think they will cancel it for SB weekend?

It looks like 1st Friday is only during summer months? Would that be correct?

 

Only been once but I didn't like it...It was labor day weekend and PACKED. I accidentally left the area and the line to get back in was insane....I just went back to MSS and lost some more money.

 

What exactly is it?

 

I have never done it, but they tell me (the ubiquitous "they") that everybody goes there because, well, everybody goes there. (Nothing attracts a crowd, like a crowd.) They say it's kinda like NYE downtown but it happens once a month.

The only "first Friday" I've ever done in LV was a couple years back at the Arts District, where they had a live band and a beer garden serving burgers and small plates and such. All of the artists and craftspeople were showing their stuff. I don't know if this is still going on or not.

 

I fall in the hate it category. I like being able to bounce around and just getting from the D to Golden Nugget was a major production. They were only letting people out of the D every 10 minutes or so in waves.

 

According to google, seems to be a local arts festival downtown.

Yeah, would not be my cup of tea. If it is going to increase crowds and traffic, chances are I don't like it unless it is pretty spectacular.

 

In the wrong place at the wrong time, that's what First Fridays mean.

 

I will be staying at the Cal on the first Friday of may, so it will be PITA to get in.

 

I feel your pain vegasdev. I will be at Cal for the 1st Friday in March. I am hoping 1st Friday isn't going on in March yet being someone mentioned it's only held during summer months.

 

This is the link for first Fridays, it doesn't say when the summer months begins or ends.

http://vegasexperience.com/things-need-know-about-first-fridays-month-fremont-street-experience/

 

Can you effectively avoid the crowds by spending your time at California/Main Street and Plaza that day?

TomTWI

 

Never even notice it at Cal/MSS. Unless you go to FSE at night. Daytime it is arts district til many go to FSE at night

 

No matter where I'm at, First Friday celebrations mean 3 things always: Too big of a crowd for my taste, too many drunks, some fucking asshole(s) starting a fight. Firmly secure me in the "Hate It" category please.

 

I thought that's the only positive aspect of the whole thing!

 

Count me as one who doesn't mind it. Two trips in the past couple of years coincided with a First Friday. The first trip was, I think, shortly after First Friday started on FSE, and the hotels suddenly had (were required to have?) a lot of extra security guards on duty. I was gambling in GG when they posted two guards at each casino entrance. One of the guards at the entrance I was nearest was a newbie and was given on-the-job training by the other one. They started checking IDs and wristbanding people as they left the casino. The people crossing the street from Plaza all had to go through the checkpoints on FSE and have their bags searched. IIRC, I was told backpacks were banned during First Friday. When I got back to the Fremont, where I was staying, I was surprised to find there were guards stationed at the elevators. In all the years I've stayed at Fremont, I've never had to show my room key to get on the elevators.

The second time was during a trip last May. We were leaving GG, and my dad found it very amusing that he had to show the guards his ID and get a wristband.

FSE was packed both times, and the bands were deafeningly loud, but I chalk it up to all being part of the experience. I wonder if the hotels get more gamblers during that time to offset the cost of the extra security.

 

I'll be there on Friday 3/3. I had no idea about the "First Friday" thing. Thanks for the info. Friday morning, 3/3 is also the Mint 400 race Tech & Contingency with 350+ race trucks and buggies on Fremont Street East.