Welcome to a bright new year to gallery hoppers and Arts District denizens alike, bringing the very First Friday of 2009 to life in Winston-Salem.

Aside from shopper-tunities, First Friday is always a vibrant event and December's hop has plenty of fun in store.

The time is upon us for another exciting First Friday and the Arts District is ready to rock for November! A variety of fun events are planned, as well as new artist openings featured in the galleries and demos taking place on the streets.

The Arts District is offering up a memorable September Gallery Hop, so plan those First Friday activities accordingly. Before I sneak you an exclusive peek into the festivities however, I have important tidbits from some far-reaching corners of the arts community.

August is going to be a hot month for Gallery Hop in more ways than one. You can catch openings by an impressive array of notable local artists in Winston-Salem’s galleries plus soak in the sights and sounds of live music and dance happening out on the streets.

June's Gallery Hop is ready to light up the night in the Arts District. You can now count on plenty of First Friday festivities taking to the streets! Enjoy outdoor performances this month including The Back Door, a live ongoing music series that takes place on Liberty Street outside the Artists on Liberty Building, the entrancing belly dancers of Three Graces Entertainment and Raku pottery firing demos courtesy of Earthbound Arts.