If you missed Old Town Untapped on Friday, April 3, you missed one of the most danceable nights downtown Pompano has had all year.
April’s edition of the city’s monthly craft brew and arts block party drew a packed crowd to NE 1 Street and Flagler Avenue, with Bailey Contemporary Arts as the backdrop and South Florida’s beloved Grateful Dead tribute Crazy Fingers headlining the main stage. The band leaned into the deep cuts — long, jammy versions of ‘Eyes of the World’ and ‘Scarlet Begonias’ — that sent the crowd swaying right up to closing.
Vendors, brews and good chaos
Untapped’s signature mix was in full effect: more than 30 local artisans set up booths along the closed-off street, food trucks lined the perimeter, and craft brewers from across Broward poured pints from temporary kegs. Kids ran between vendor tents while their parents grabbed a beer and watched the band, the kind of ratio of laid-back family scene to nightlife that Old Town has perfected.
A few standouts from the vendor lineup: a pair of woodworkers from Coconut Creek selling reclaimed-pine cutting boards, a local printmaker doing live screen prints on visitor-supplied t-shirts, and a sustainable jewelry maker who sold out of sea-glass earrings before 8 PM.
Why this one mattered
April is a sweet spot for Untapped — the weather is dry, the snowbirds are still in town, and Jazz Fest energy is building only two weeks out. City staffers said the April crowd was noticeably bigger than the typical first-Friday turnout, with people drifting over from the Bailey Contemporary opening earlier in the evening.
Untapped is free, family-friendly, and runs every first Friday of the month from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. If you couldn’t make April, mark your calendar for the May edition — there’s always a new band, a new vendor lineup, and a new excuse to wander downtown with a drink.
Quick details
- Where: 41 NE 1 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060
- When: First Friday every month, 6–10 PM
- Cost: Free admission
- Parking: Free street and lot parking near Bailey Contemporary Arts; additional spots at City Hall on Atlantic Blvd
Old Town Untapped is presented by Pompano Beach Arts and the City of Pompano Beach with support from the Broward County Cultural Division.
