Downtown Development Newsroom
Gallery Hops Proving Popular
Friday April 7, 2006
Louisville's a hoppin' place – literally. Monthly gallery hops have become an incredibly popular way to explore art, restaurants and other attractions throughout the city.
The first – and still largest – is the First Friday Gallery Hop (www.galleryhop.org), which occurs the first Friday evening of every month and welcomes residents and visitors alike to the vibrant East Market and Main District in downtown Louisville. It is an evening full of socializing, various mediums of art, and good wine. The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) and Louisville's downtown galleries invite you to visit the community's newest neighborhood where visual arts are flourishing.
Since starting-up in December 2001, ridership on TARC trolleys during First Friday has increased ten-fold, with its highest attendance at more than 3,000 people. The popular event continues to grow and attracts folks from the farthest reaches of Louisville Metro and the region.
Hop on a free trolley the first Friday of every month from 5 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and take a ride along the Main, Market Street and 4th Street corridors. You'll visit participating galleries and learn why Louisville is becoming well-known for its wealth of painting, sculpture, photography and glass art.
Another growing arts corridor is historic
Frankfort Avenue, with the addition of its own gallery hop, called Frankfort Avenue Trolley (FAT) Friday Hop (
www.fatfridayhop.org). Sponsored by Maker’s Mark and Budweiser, it occurs on the last Friday of each month, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and started off with a bang at nearly 2,300 riders its first month, in September 2004.