First Friday Surprise is a creative district that appears for one night, then goes away until the next first Friday.
Every event fills the grounds with independent makers selling work they made themselves, live music, and food trucks competing for your vote. The gallery stays open alongside it. Every month has its own theme, its own featured art, and its own reason to come back.
This is built by the people who show up to it. Artists, cooks, musicians, and neighbors, producing something the West Valley hasn’t had before.
Powered by people who showed up.
First Friday Surprise is built by local artists, businesses, organizations, and individuals who believe this city deserves a night like this.
Season One proved it could work. Season Two makes it a tradition. That happens because partners choose to back it, not because anyone was asked to.
Every sponsorship goes straight back into the work: paying musicians, building the exhibits, and putting local artists in front of the people who live here.
Eight events, October through May, in front of a growing West Valley audience. If your business belongs here, we should talk.
Next Event
La Mesa
Friday, October 2
6pm – 9pm | Arts HQ Gallery
Season Two opens with a celebration of the Hispanic and Latino community during Hispanic Heritage Month. Makers, live music, and four competing food trucks, outdoors at Arts HQ Gallery.
Eight First Fridays
Season Two runs October through May. Each month brings a new theme and a featured art discipline.
OCTOBER · La Mesa Featured Discipline: Made by Hand
OCT 2
NOVEMBER · Thankful Featured Discipline: Photography
NOV 6
DECEMBER · Enchanted Winter Market Featured Discipline: Books and Authors
DEC 4
JANUARY · Exhale Featured Discipline: Fashion and Textile
JAN 1
FEBRUARY · Celebration of Fandom Featured Discipline: Stickers
FEB 5
MARCH · Spring Training Featured Discipline: Sketch Cards
MAR 5
APRIL · Cowboy Spring Featured Discipline: Photography
APR 2
MAY · Enchanged Forest-Garden Featured Discipline: Watercolor & Stoneware
MAY 7
Event Details
Time
6pm – 9pm
Location
Arts HQ Gallery (Civic Center Dr & Paradise Ln)
Parking
Free, within walking distance.
Cost – FREE
The trucks compete. You decide who wins.
Come Hungry
Every event, a lineup of food trucks goes head to head on the month’s theme. Attendees vote for a favorite, and a separate panel of judges runs its own scoring alongside the fan vote.
Not feeling the theme? There are always trucks on site serving something else, no theme required.
Monthly winners advance. In May, every champion of the season returns for Champions’ Row and competes for $1,000.
Being part of First Friday Surprise was such a joy! We loved connecting with the community and seeing so many smiles throughout the evening. It means a lot to share our creations and bring a little happiness to others — we can’t wait for the next one!
Maker
Olivia Smith
Verified buyer
First Friday Surprise was indeed a pleasant Surprise, pun intended!!
The event was organized very well, the organizers were very friendly and helpful.
The visitors to the event, were very discerning and very arts conscious. Response to my type of artwork was surely very good. A big thank you to the event visitors for the great response.
Looking forward to seeing many new visitors
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First Friday Surprise takes place outdoors at Arts HQ Gallery, one of the West Valley’s premier exhibition spaces, in the heart of Surprise.
The gallery is focused on innovative, diverse, and intentional art experiences that are educational and accessible to everyone. Exhibits are free and open to the public.
The gallery stays open during First Friday Surprise*, so the indoor exhibition is part of your night. It is also open year round, well beyond our eight first Fridays. Worth a visit on any of the other days.
[ Open in Maps ][ Visit Arts HQ Gallery ]
16126 N Civic Center Plaza Surprise, AZ 85379
The Best Surprises Come to Your Inbox
Stay connected with First Friday Surprise! From event news and featured vendors to giveaways and contests, our newsletter keeps the fun going all month long.
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