It may be chilly outside but warm up with a fun and cozy evening of roasting marshmallows while walking the streets, sipping hot cocoa and enjoy exclusive evening specials and activities at downtown businesses. Ice provided by mother

Internal Note: The Joy of Living was a huge hit during Christmas Stroll this year with their marshmallow roasting station, and the year before Toad N Willow offered chestnuts roasting on an open fire...BFD approved these sorts of cool weather activities as long as the fire is contained, monitored, placed at a reasonable distance from buildings, and covered with the metal grate top.

We recommend if you choose a wood burning option to check with your surrounding neighbors first to make sure they feel comfortable with the potential smoke made by the fire as some clothing or furniture retailers may have concerns. Other cozy ideas would be to offer warm beverage options or specials, provide outdoor heaters and cozy seating areas for the night, extend specials on specific cool weather items like beanies, gloves, sweaters, or socks, mugs etc....  

You bet ya! ArtWalk is an amazing member driven event that falls on the first Friday of every other month (6 times a year). If you are a DBA member who is also participating in ArtWalk let us know and we'll make sure you are listed on the First Friday marketing to increase your marketing. The community looks forward to the opportunity to mingle and explore local and regional artists at various locations downtown promoted by the ArtWalk organization. The ArtWalk has been around for many years and has a wonderful momentum and following that participants really benefit from. For more information about ArtWalk email virginiab@downtownbillings.com.
 
First Friday happens 12 months a year. It's a promotional event specifically for DBA members. It is not your typical traditional event format, as it's not located in a specific footprint. First Friday happens at ALL participating locations and the DBA will market and promote each location while also add little fun enhancements to draw more people downtown for the night. So being a part of both can only increase the amount of people your business is marketed to and interact with in a variety of ways.

Message Lindsay at  LRichardson@downtownbillings.com if you would like help connecting with some performance artists or other vendors for your location. *NOTE: A Performance artist is not necessary, just something fun and unique to the night.*