Downtown Arlington’s monthly First Thursdays event will take on a special theme this September joining the citywide celebration of Arlington’s 150th birthday.
The free event, held from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 3, 2026, will feature live music, family-friendly activities and downtown experiences, all centered on commemorating the city’s sesquicentennial. Attractions and specials will be announced two weeks before the event, but several key birthday‑themed activities are already set.
One of the night’s largest moments is planned for the Levitt Pavilion lawn near City Hall, where community members will form a massive “150” for a drone‑captured commemorative photo. Participants can pick up a free Arlington 150th birthday T‑shirt, available while supplies last, at the site before the shoot. RSVP to reserve your spot for the historic photo. The Levitt Pavilion is located at 100 W. Abram St. Enjoy free limited quantity birthday cookies from Marquez Bakery. A special thanks to design firm MMA Texas, located at 519 E Border St. for assisting with the surveying, planning and mapping of the “150” outline for the photo.
Hurtado BBQ, located at 205 E. Front St., will host live music and a mural painting session from 5 to 8 p.m. to celebrate Arlington’s 150th birthday. Attendees can meet local artist Dylan Kennedy as he completes Downtown’s newest mural, snap photos with the artwork and enjoy music on the patio. The project is supported by the North Texas Communities Foundation and the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation.
Knapp Heritage Park will host an open house with historic log cabin tours, live music and the launch of Arlington History Walking Tours, which will begin and end at the park. Please register for the Guided Tours. Knapp Heritage Park is located at 201 W. Front St.
Visitors can explore Downtown through the Arlington 150th Birthday Sticker Scavenger Hunt, stopping at six participating businesses to collect custom stickers. After completing the set, participants can collect a limited‑edition sticker at the City of Arlington booth inside Theatre Arlington at 305 W. Main St. An announcement with a list of participating businesses where you can pick up stickers will be coming soon.
Theatre Arlington will join the celebration with “Stealing the Spotlight: 150 Years of Arlington,” an original cabaret featuring stories, anecdotes and music inspired by notable figures from Arlington’s history. Performances will take place at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with each show running approximately 30 minutes. Reserve your ticket in advance to secure your spot.
Before each performance of “Stealing the Spotlight,” the Arlington Master Chorale will take the cabaret stage at 6:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. for a special preview of its upcoming concert, “Treasures of the Heart,” taking place Oct. 16–17, 2026. The concert will feature a commissioned work by local composer Laura Farnell, created in commemoration of Arlington’s 150th anniversary.
Frost Bank’s Downtown branch, located at 101 E. Abram St., Suite 160, will offer free face painting, popcorn and sodas. A City of Arlington 150th Birthday photo backdrop will also be available near the Levitt lawn for attendees to capture their own milestone snapshots.
Music will play a major role in the celebration. Through Arlington Amplified, local musicians will perform along Downtown sidewalks as part of its Street Sounds activation. Symphony Arlington will also bring classical selections to the area during the event.
Be sure to come early to visit these participating businesses and their activations during the September First Thursday event:
- Create Texas at Wellspring (201 W. Main St.): – “Art, Music & 150th Face Painting” – Celebrate the City’s 150th Birthday with Create Arlington this First Thursday! Stop by for live music out front, custom balloon creations, and face painting featuring a special City of Arlington 150th Birthday logo stencil. Before you head out, wander through the Underground Gallery to support 8 local resident artists displaying their newest work. It’s the perfect stop for art lovers and families alike!
- Coliseum Comics & Games (400 E. Division St. #110): “Free Comic Book” – Stop by Coliseum Comics and Games to pick up a free comic book! Join us in celebrating Arlington’s strong focus on reading and family-friendly activities.
- Rocketbelly (300 E Abram St #150): “Paint Your Own Shirt” – Decorate your very own t-shirt in celebration of the City of Arlington’s 150th. Enjoy $1.50 off all drinks and a free commemorative gift with a $10 purchase.
- The Mosaic Market (204 N. West St.): “Free Craft Time: Paint Your Own Mushroom” – Paint and personalize your own adorable wooden mushrooms!
- Big Brother, Big Sister of Tarrant County (205 W. Main St.): “Fall Community Handprint Tree ” – Come make a fall handprint tree with Big Brothers Big Sisters! Bring your hands and creativity and we will provide the materials. We will also be playing some fall movies to get everyone into the fall spirit!
- Daydream Bookstore & Cafe (380 E. Front St. #110): “Bookish Pot Painting Class” – They will host a bookish pot painting class. Participants can paint their favorite book on a recycled pot for plants at a cost. The event will take place from 5 – 7 p.m.
- Kung Fu Tea (101 E. Abram St., #170): “Keychain Charm Making” – Stop by Kung Fu Tea to craft your very own keychain charm while enjoying a cold blended drink in their cozy space.
- Tokyo Station (400 E. South St.): “Killer Queen Arcade Tournament” – Enjoy $1.50 off usual admission price and $1.50 Soju shots in celebration of Arlington’s 150th birthday! Join the Hive! Every first Thursday of the month, Tokyo Station hosts a Killer Queen Arcade tournament. Starting at 8 p.m., this tournament places players on a randomized team of five. Competitors must work together to ensure victory in the ultimate arcade action game. As an added bonus, all new players get FREE venue the next time they return to the arcade. Try something new this Thursday with Nippon NewBees at Tokyo Station!
- Cheba Hut (504 E. Abram St.): “Karaoke at the Hut” – Starting at 7 p.m., Cheba Hut is hosting Open Mic Karaoke for September’s First Thursday! Grab your favorite toasted sub and join us for a night of music, drinks and community fun. Everyone is welcome to sign up and sing!
- Ann’s Natural Grocery & Nutrition (101 E. Abram St. #140): “Live Concert in the Grocery Store” – Stop by Ann’s during September First Thursdays for an evening of great tunes and free treats. Enjoy live music with musician Rosy L. from 6-8 p.m. and try out their Birthday Cake Smoothie in celebration of the City’s 150th birthday!
- J. Gilligan’s (400 E. Abram St.): “Plant Bingo” – Join on the restaurant side from 6-8 p.m. for a special edition of Plant Bingo. It’s the perfect outing for families and friends. Enjoy some classic pub favorites and play for your chance to win a beautiful new plant to take home!
- Canvas & Co. Studio (120 E. Abram St. B): “Open House & Free Headshots” – They’re inviting the Downtown Arlington community to tour their modern, creative production spaces. To celebrate, their team is offering two free professional headshots to guests during the event. Come take a look behind the scenes and update your professional profile for free.
- Space Monkey Tattoo (302 E. Division St.): “Tarot, Tattoos & Prizes” – Discover what the future holds with a personalized reading from Tarot by Jeremy or spin the shop’s prize wheel to win exclusive Space Monkey merch or gift certificates! Complete the vibe with fresh acai bowls, cold brews, and matcha lattes available from Johnny’s Bowls and Boba.
- George W. Hawkes Downtown Library (100 S. Center St.): “Creative Corner x Origami Bookmarks ”- Fold, create, and celebrate reading this September! In collaboration with Downtown Arlington’s 150th celebration, make origami bookmarks with Arlington Public Library in honor of Library Card Sign-Up Month. All experience levels are welcome, and materials available on a first-come, first-served basis. This event will be held in the [re]Brary room from 5-8 p.m. or while supplies last. Explore the makerspace and discover the exciting possibilities of technology and craft. Don’t forget to enjoy our family-friendly games in the lobby. Thank you to the Friends and Foundation of the Arlington Public Library for their generous support of our programming.
- Fool’s Kava House (200 N. Mesquite St. #119): “Gamer Night” – THURSDAY = GAME DAY at Fool’s Kava House! Sip some kava and get your game on all day long with our PC, console and VR setups. Whether you’re here for the skills or just the vibes, come chill and level up your First Thursday there. Enjoy $15 All-You-Can-Drink Kava specials.
- Truth Vinyl (300 E. Division St.): “Vinyl & Karaoke” – Enjoy exclusive drink specials available throughout the evening while you browse the stacks of curated vinyl. Stick around as the energy picks up for their popular Karaoke session starting at 7 p.m. It’s the perfect night to shop for records, enjoy a drink and sing your heart out!
- Amore Mio (101 E. Abram St. #190): “Spin the Wheel” – Celebrate Arlington’s 150th Anniversary with Amore Mio this First Thursday! Dine at Amore Mio and Spin to Win exciting prizes, including discounts, free appetizers, desserts, wine, and more. Every spin is a chance to win!
- Wondrous Works Gift Shop (125 E. Front. St): “Draw Yourself Community Art Piece” – We’ll be completing our community art piece-Draw Yourself-and shoppers get a free Dream Sculpture Postcard with purchase to celebrate Arlington’s 150th birthday!
- STASH VHS (210 S. Mesquite St.): ”Thrifty Thursdays & Game Night” – Head inside the shop for a classic video game night and outside, you can challenge friends to a game of cornhole. While you’re there, be sure to take advantage of their special Thrifty Thursday deals!
- Chosen One Tattoo (519 E. Abram St.): “Gallery Night & Tours” – Free walk in art gallery & free arcade night! Join us as we showcase our rare art gallery from around the world! Tattoo specials, free arcade night and refreshments for our guest!
- Mi Tesoro Thrift (300 E. Front St.): “Planty Thrift Bingo” – We will host a free planty thrifty bingo. The bingo games will be held at 5, 6 and 7 p.m., with prices including an Arlington 150th year celebration basket.
- Acapulquito Taqueria Bar & Grill (505 E. Abram St.): “Free Salsa Lessons & Dance” – From 6-10 p.m., head on over to Taqueria Acapulquito for their viral salsa night with dance company, Salsa in the Gardens.
- Cafe Americana (403 E. Main St.): “Live Music” – Transport yourself this First Thursday at Cafe Americana. Enjoy an evening of soulful live music paired with their signature tapas and cocktails. Whether you’re winding down or starting your night, the rhythm of Downtown is best felt right here.
- Division Brewing (506 E. Main St.): “Live Glass Blowing with Grey Area Studios & Rock the Growl Open Mic Night” – Join at Division Brewing for evening of music and art. Head to the patio to watch Grey Area Studios create glass art in real time. Then support Rock the Growl Open Mic Night, where you can take the stage or cheer on local performers. While you’re here, browse the vinyl pop-up shop, grab a fresh pizza from the kitchen and be sure to try the official City of Arlington’s 150th Commemorative Beer on tap.
- Hooligan’s Pub (310 E. Abram St. #150): “Karaoke Night” – Stop by Downtown Arlington’s iconic Irish pub and sing your heart out with your friends during Karaoke Night on First Thursdays!
First Thursdays continues to serve as a monthly showcase for Downtown businesses, local artists and community organizations. With Arlington marking 150 years, September’s edition aims to blend celebration, history and entertainment in a single evening across the Downtown district.
