The Challenges Facing First Fridays in Norfolk
For many years, the First Fridays block party series has been a staple of downtown Norfolk’s cultural scene. It has brought together residents and visitors alike for music, food, and community engagement. However, after the April event, the long-standing tradition was put on hold, raising concerns among local business owners and artists.
The Downtown Norfolk Council announced on April 17th that it would be pausing the event due to feedback from businesses about its impact on the area. In a statement, the council mentioned that the most recent event “did not align with First Fridays’ role as a welcoming, business-supporting community event, including litter and other quality-of-life concerns.”
This decision sparked a range of reactions from those involved. Chris McGrath, owner of Tap It Local Craft Beer, shared his perspective on what he observed during the April event. He noted that there were several underage teenagers causing disturbances, which led to some scuffles between kids. McGrath emphasized that while the police are present to handle such situations, the burden shouldn’t fall on the businesses.
“It shouldn’t be taken out on us. We didn’t do anything wrong. The majority of the people that come to First Friday haven’t done anything wrong,” McGrath said.
May’s event, which was meant to feature a performance from the band Nothing, Nowhere, Now, Here, was canceled, prompting the band members to speak out about the situation.
James Turner, a member of NNNH, expressed his frustration, stating, “We didn’t really have a lot of say. It was just kind of like, hey, we’re done. You know, like not happening. Sorry.”
Another band member, 95Leo, added that the lack of communication from the council left them feeling uninformed. “There’s definitely been a lack of communication and a lot of the reasoning, because I have gotten more insight since then, a lot of that has come from me asking around,” he said. “It was it was frustration because it seemed very vague.”
Both Turner and 95Leo believe that better crowd control could prevent future cancellations. They also highlighted the importance of community involvement in addressing these issues.
“Hand me and my four other band mates the trash bag we’ll cover these two blocks, get it done,” Turner said. “We’re a community here and there’s a large group of creatives who want to see this place do as well as it can,” 95Leo added.
McGrath echoed this sentiment, suggesting that a dialogue between the city council and local businesses could lead to better solutions. “I’d love to sit down and give my opinion to city council,” he said.
As the community reflects on the challenges faced by First Fridays, there is a growing call for collaboration between organizers, businesses, and artists to ensure that future events can thrive without compromising the safety or integrity of the downtown area.
