The NCAA March Madness Music Festival and the Fan Fest will add plenty of people to the downtown area, but that shouldn't deter you from a great lineup of shows at Phoenix galleries.
This month, you can catch an anniversary show at one of the city's most important galleries, see cactus-themed works inside a cathedral and much more.
Alwun House
1204 E. Roosevelt St.This First Friday at Alwun House is for the kids. Come see works by students from Phoenix Elementary School District #1. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m., or you can show up early to see the Garfield Elementary School choir and the Garfield Elementary jazz band perform from 4 to 6 p.m.Arizona Center
455 N. Third St.Arizona Center and Retail Therapy will host a First Friday event downtown featuring live music, a pop-up roller rink, a night market, creative workshops and art installations. Leashed pets are welcome. Hours are 6 to 10 p.m.Cahokia Socialtech + Artspace
707 N. Third St., #130Opening tonight at Cahokia is the exhibition "We Are Still Here" by Lauren Thurston, which "intricately weaves her extensive tattooing background with her proud Taino heritage, offering a vibrant celebration of resilience and cultural presence through botanical, skeletal, and critter motifs alongside ornamental designs and lettering," according to the gallery. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m.eye lounge
922 N. Fifth St.The eye lounge gallery is currently showing "Anecdotes & Myths," a group show that includes new work of artist collective members Amy Bird, Swapna Das, Katherine Del Rosario, Regan Henley, Amanda Mollindo, Laura Rodriguez, Dean Terasaki, Hyewon Yoon and Summer Raine Young. First Friday hours are 6 to 9 p.m.
First Studio
631 N. First Ave.First Studio is hosting two shows this First Friday. In the gallery downstairs, see "Joan C. Thompson: A Curated Retrospective," featuring 40 works by the artist, from 5 to 9 p.m. Upstairs is "Love Remains: Relocated," works by Kris Kollasch. Hours for that show are 6 to 9 p.m.Five15 Arts @ Chartreuse
1301 Grand Ave., #2BThis month's exhibition at Five15 Arts @ Chartreuse is "Three-Way Conversations" featuring work by Daniel Prendergast. According to the artist statement, Prendergast's "garden-centered work springs from the intersection of sustained observation, the cycles of nature and the mysteries of the (allegedly) inanimate. First Friday hours are 6 to 9 p.m.FOUND:RE Contemporary
1100 N. Central Ave.The gallery space inside the FOUND:RE Phoenix hotel is showing works by members of the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies. First Friday hours run until 10 p.m.Heard Museum
2301 N. Central Ave.The theme of this month's First Friday festivities at Heard Museum is Hands in the Dirt. Features include a garden activity, a pottery demonstration, a guided gallery walk and music by Ethiopian jazz duo Kapsol Music. First Friday hours are 5 to 9 p.m.Herberger Theater Center
222 E. Monroe St.The theater's First Friday Live series continues with outdoor performances featuring diverse and eclectic music, performances, projection and visual art, interactive activities and food and drink specials. This month's musical theme is Jazz on the Pavilion. Inside the building, you can see the gallery's latest exhibitions from 6 to 8 p.m.Japanese Friendship Garden
1125 N. Third Ave.The city's exquisite Japanese Friendship Garden will offer free admission from 5 to 7 p.m. this First Friday.