Note: Out of respect for the family of Officer Jamal Mitchell and the families of all the victims in yesterday’s shooting, the launch of Warehouse District Live will be canceled the weekend of May 31.
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A block of First Avenue North in downtown closed to traffic for weekends this summer
Building on the success of the 2023 season, Warehouse District Live kicks off its second full season beginning Friday, June 7. An enhanced nightlife experience in downtown Minneapolis, Warehouse District Live will take place along First Avenue North on Fridays and Saturdays through the end of October. To provide a safe and elevated pedestrian experience, a block of First Avenue North from Fifth Street to Sixth Street will be closed to motor vehicles beginning at 12 p.m. Fridays and reopening at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
Sponsored by the City of Minneapolis and produced by the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, Warehouse District Live will provide food trucks, seating, restrooms, and various forms of entertainment and activities between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. each weekend night. In addition to the block between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, an additional 1-2 blocks of programming may be added on certain weekends.
“Warehouse District Live is back for a second season! When we transform First Avenue into a bustling pedestrian hub with food trucks, entertainment, and public amenities, we are reinvigorating the downtown experience, supporting our local economy, and having a blast doing it,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “Minneapolis is a vibrant city, full of momentum – and spending a summer night in the Warehouse District is one great way to experience it.”
Warehouse District Live, which was piloted in 2022 and ran for a full season in 2023, improves downtown Minneapolis’ busy entertainment district by addressing known resource gaps. By providing late-night food options and free, inclusive entertainment, Warehouse District Live addresses the needs of nightlife patrons and workers to support a vibrant nighttime economy in downtown Minneapolis. In 2023, Warehouse District Live activated 42 Fridays and Saturdays and featured 350 hours of free public activities, 150 hours of public karaoke and 30 hours of local D.J.s.
“Warehouse District Live was incredibly successful last year and I’m looking forward to another great summer downtown,” said Minneapolis City Council Member Michael Rainville who represents the City’s third ward and spearheaded the effort to start Warehouse District Live. “The pedestrian-friendly zone enhances the vibrancy of downtown and supports the entertainment businesses that make our downtown a regional destination.”
Serious crime downtown continues to fall, with significant reductions in shootings, assaults, robberies and auto thefts. The work of Minneapolis police officers and their Late Night Safety Plan, along with an uptick in foot traffic, is making downtown safe.
“Warehouse District Live will add to the experience of those coming downtown for sporting events, theater, concerts, our nightlife scene and incredible restaurants all summer long on Fridays and Saturdays,” said Adam Duninick, President & CEO, Mpls Downtown Improvement District. “Join us for a weekend night out downtown this summer and enjoy the food trucks, programming and fun that Warehouse District Live has to offer all summer.”
For more information on Warehouse District Live, visit www.mplsdid.com/wdl.