Costumes, candy & First Friday fun

Get your Halloween costume ready early and enjoy an evening of trick-or-treating, shopping, food, music and more downtown.

Halloween fun comes early in downtown Kokomo on Friday, Oct. 2, as First Friday teams up with the annual Post Party for an evening packed with Halloween spirit, entertainment, and activities for all ages.

From 5:30 to 8 p.m., downtown will be buzzing with opportunities to explore local shops and boutiques, enjoy food and drinks, discover artists and makers, and soak up the community atmosphere. Put on your costume, bring the family, and get a head start on trick-or-treating around downtown.

The big attraction of the evening is the 2026 Post Party, presented by The Kokomo Post and Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union. This year’s theme, “The Mad Lab: A Potion Commotion,” brings hands-on experiences, experiments, interactive activities, trick-or-treating, curated vendors, DIY workshops, and entertainment to two downtown streets. With one street dedicated to family-friendly fun and another designed with adults in mind, there’s plenty to explore. The Post Party runs until 10 p.m.

First Fridays are themed, arts-forward community events that celebrate the people, businesses, and creative energy that make downtown Kokomo unique. Each month brings something different, giving you another reason to explore downtown, connect with the community, and support local businesses.

Keep the fun going after 8 p.m. with First Friday After Hours, featuring select downtown bars, pubs, shops, and venues open for guests ages 21 and older.

2026 Howard County Stand Down

Promotion of the 2026 Howard County Stand Down, Nov. 5, 2026. Information will be distributed about services available to military veterans in Howard and surrounding counties.

Hosted by: Howard and Tipton United Way 125 N. Buckeye St.

Howard and Tipton United Way

125 N. Buckeye St.

Alphabet Soup ABA Pediatric Behavioral Services & Sense-ability Creations

We will have the Wheel of Swag to win some cool custom swag, Custom Coloring Pages and a Sensory Activity Table!

Courthouse Square

American Legion Post 6

Trick or Treating Halloween booth with information!

Courthouse Square

Air Force Reserve

Bring Air Force Reserve awareness to the community.

Courthouse Square

Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo – Labor and Delivery Department

Handing out candy and come check out our masks!

Hosted by: MoJoes Coffee House 106 N. Main St.

Barbara Enstrom

Arts and crafts

Courthouse Square

Bolton & Bloom Threads

We specialize in handmade and custom items, including quilted bum bags, quilted shirts and sweatshirts, porch goose outfits, and custom embroidered items.

Hosted by: Scott Law Office and Mediation Center, 122 N. Main St.

Bridges Outreach

Bridges Outreach Fundraiser – Selling Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls!

208 N. Main St.

Busy Bee’s Daycare Center

Free Pumpkin Painting!

Courthouse Square

City of Kokomo Human Rights Commission

Booth promoted and offering information about the Kokomo Human Rights Commission.

Courthouse Square

Community Howard Regional Hospital – Care mobile and Ambulance

Handing out Candy and FREE flu vaccines!

Courthouse Square

Crossroads Community Church Downtown Campus

We will have kids’ activities, snacks, and fun.

116 N. Main St.

The Copper Snail

Homemade art: stained glass, watercolor post cards, beanie baby taxidermy

Hosted by: The Coterie 107 W. Sycamore St.

Custom Craft

Custom cups, shirts, decals and other custom items!

Courthouse Square

Edward Jones – Kurt Hagenmaier

Passing out candy and information!

116 S. Buckeye St.

Elite Expo Home Shows (Kokomo Home Show/Heritage Painting)

Table with candy and promotion for Heritage Painting and the Kokomo Home Show.

Courthouse Square

Everyday Vibes Studio

Selling handmade art prints, bracelets, keychains, and charm pens.

Hosted by: Artworks Gallery 210 N. Main St.

Family Worship Center

Passing out Devotionals and asking for any prayer request.

100 W. Walnut St.

First Farmers Bank & Trust

Passing out candy!

101 W. Sycamore St.

Fired Arts Studio

Paint a Little Scarecrow!

Stop in and paint your very own mini ceramic scarecrow for just $10! Choose your colors, add your own personality, and let us take care of the firing. But that’s not all! We’re also partnering with the Kokomo Art Association for the KAA Community Scarecrow Showcase & Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt! Pick up your Scarecrow Hunt form at Fired Arts or Artworks Gallery, explore downtown, find the 21 community scarecrows, and enter to win a prize-filled gift basket!

Come paint a scarecrow, grab your hunt form, and make an evening of exploring downtown Kokomo, Indiana! $10 Mini Scarecrows • Walk-ins Welcome. While Supplies Last.

111 W. Sycamore St.

Gilead House

Bake Sale!

Hosted by: First Farmers Bank & Trust 101 W. Sycamore St.

Grace United Methodist Church

We will have trick or treating happening inside. We will also have face painting, photo opportunities with some characters, snacks, and more fun family activities.

219 W. Mulberry St.

Hacienda Mexican Restaurant

Sharing delicious Chips and Salsa with the community!

Courthouse Square

Howard County Democratic Party

Free coloring sheets and crayons!

113 E. Sycamore St.

Howard County Health Department

American Red Cross

Hands-only CPR training by the American Red Cross *no certificate*. Free preparedness kit supplies will be available to everyone (limited supply).

Hosted by: United Way, 125 N Buckeye St.

Howard County Rebels 14u

Travel softball organization fundraiser dunk tank!

Hosted by: PF Hendricks & Co. 101 N. Buckeye St.

Humana

I’m here to help low income/disabled individuals with Medicare to let them know that Humana has resources that could help their everyday living. We offer healthy option cards that can help with groceries and transportation!
Courthouse Square

Indiana Health Center

Marketing outreach for our health facilities with free giveaways.

Hosted by: Sound of Music 106 W. Walnut St.

Indiana Rain Boxing & Science

Advertising recent local opening, recruiting gym members and connecting with potential donors/community partners.

Courthouse Square

Janky 3D

3D toys and décor!

Courthouse Square

Kokomo Antique Mall

Passing out candy, open until 8pm!

121 W. Sycamore St.

Kokomo Art Association

Opening reception for “Off the Skin” Bohemian Tattoo Club Artists Exhibit. Free crayons and coloring books. While supplies last.

210 N. Main St.

Kokomo Howard County Public Library – Bookmobile

Courthouse Square

Kokomo Teachers Association

Building community partnerships with our teachers association.

Hosted by: Fired Arts Studio, 111 W. Sycamore St.

KRA-Z Donuts

Mini cake donuts and lemon shake-ups.

Courthouse Square

The Maddie-Daddie Duo

We’re a father-daughter music duo that plays a variety of music including pop, country, rock, bluegrass, and more. In the spirit of Halloween, we’re taking First Friday guests back in time with music from the 1950s and 60s, and we’re performing in decade-inspired costumes!

Hosted by: MoJoes Coffee House 106 N. Main St.

Makers Mart and Teresas Creations

3d prints, Goose items. I will have a coloring activity school themed.

Courthouse Square

Mix & Mingle Confections, LLC

Check out our cookie decorating table in addition to our kits for sale.

Courthouse Square

M&M Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dental office Promos and information about baby teeth

Hosted by: Cook McDoogal’s Irish Pub, 100 N Main St.

Mona’s Art Gallery

Check out Mona’s Art Gallery and Gluten free, dairy-free, chocolate chip cookies!

210 N. Main St. (located inside Artworks Gallery)

Nailzx.jazz

Create your own press-on nail sets!

113 W. Sycamore St.

Perfectly Prepped

Bottled BBQ Sauce, pulled chicken and pulled pork sandwiches, pulled pork or pulled chicken Mac & Cheese.

Hosted by: Mark Dabrowski Law Firm 123 W. Sycamore St.

Pilato

Offering Pilates mat classes, come check us out!

210 N Main St. (Located above Artworks Gallery)

Pix Pits Pottery

Selling amazing pottery handmade in Kokomo!

Courthouse Square

Purple Phoenix Jewelry

Check out our Jewelry!

Hosted by: The Elevated Hippie 102 N. Main St.

Quinn Stout – Pinsanity

Sale of horror film, Halloween, and other themed enamel pins and crystal.

Courthouse Square

Raising Cane’s

Handing out candy and Raising Cane’s swag!

Courthouse Square

Renewal By Andersen

We are planning to pass out candy and answer questions about windows and doors.

Courthouse Square

S&S Prime

Our food Truck will be serving our signature shell-less seafood bowls, including Butter Drip Bowls, Seafood Drip Bowls, Prime Bowls and Loaded Prime Feasts, along with quesabirrias, stewed pork tacos and chicken tacos!

Courthouse Square

Sage’s Sweets

Halloween and Fall themed lemonades and cake pops!

Courthouse Square

Secondhand Stories

For each month, we will have themed specials and promos!

107 W. Mulberry Street

SHAK Makerspace

Passing out candy and information!

Courthouse Square

StudioD13

Local Artist!

Hosted by: PF Hendricks & Co. 101 N. Buckeye St.

Transformation Christian Church

Fun and family friendly activities for all!

Hosted by: Bridges Outreach 208 N. Main St.

Walgreens

Photo booth, candy and vaccine awareness!

Courthouse Square

Wicked Witchy Women Wooden Wares

Halloween themed vendor!

Courthouse Square

Window Nation

Discounts and more!

Courthouse Square

YMCA of Kokomo

Passing out candy!

114 N. Union St.

The awesomeness that will be First Fridays in 2026 is here!

What is First Friday?

First Fridays are themed, arts-forward community nights that turn downtown Kokomo into a hub of creativity, connection, and local flavor. Held on the first Friday of select months, the event invites people to explore downtown through extended business hours, local vendors, live entertainment, and hands-on experiences.

On First Fridays, downtown shops, restaurants, and organizations stay open late, welcoming guests with specials, pop-ups, art, music, and behind-the-scenes looks at what makes Kokomo’s downtown unique. Streets and storefronts buzz with local artists, makers, and businesses sharing their work and connecting with the community.

Each event features a rotating theme inspired by the season, local culture, or the arts — so no two First Fridays feel the same. Whether you’re coming with family, friends, or flying solo, there’s always something new to discover.

Stick Around for After Hours

First Friday After Hours, where the 21+ crowd can indulge in downtown Kokomo’s night life past the regular event hours of First Fridays. Select bars, pubs, shops, and event venues will remain open with expanded offerings. You can even find live music and entertainment as well. First Friday After Hours is a great way to celebrate the end of a long work week.

First Friday After Hours will continue after 8 p.m. and is for guests ages 21 and older only.

Special thanks to our First Friday Presenting Partner!

WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN FIRST FRIDAY?

Want to be part of the energy of First Fridays? Anyone can get involved! Whether you’re a business, artist, organization, or vendor, participation starts with a simple sign-up. And if you’re not located in downtown Kokomo, no worries — you’ll simply need to partner with a downtown participant. Easy peasy!

The information below will walk you through everything you need to know to get involved and help you have the best possible experience at each First Friday event.

Get involved!

Getting involved is easy! Just fill out the online form to let the Greater Kokomo Downtown Association know who you are and how you’d like to participate in First Fridays.

Click here to get started

Engage with the community!

All signed up but lacking inspiration? We’ve got you covered. Our planning materials include activity ideas to help you engage the community, plus optional guidance for incorporating each month’s theme in a way that works for you.

Get inspired here!

Promote your participation!

Don’t forget to spread the word! We provide ready-to-use marketing materials to help you promote your participation and let the community know how they can find you during First Fridays.

Download Marketing Materials

Let’s get social!

Last, but certainly not least, connect with us on social media to get all the latest and greatest event information!

First Friday

Downtown District