Held the first Friday of select months, Destination Fridays provides a chance to position the African-American Research Library (where it is held) as an exciting community asset that provides education, culture and recreation to the people it serves. There was no library event like it in South Florida at the time, and it allowed guests to see the library as thriving and innovative. The event is planned and executed by library staff with support from the Library’s Friends group. First Fridays was designed to provide a safe, fun evening event geared toward adults that offers guest a new and different aspect of the Library.

Destination Fridays was planned as a festive event with an educational component. Each event offers the attractions, fun, music, signature delicacies, and tourism highlights of exotic places. The Library utilizes its museum, gallery and seminar rooms for cultural activities, artwork and travel lectures. Events begin at 6:30 p.m. after regular library hours. Staff volunteers contact sponsors and help provide entertainers, cultural artifacts and an event schedule. Contests offered donated, travel-related prizes such as plane tickets. Dance lessons and demonstrations are also featured. A $10 admission fee assists in recovering costs. No library funds were used for these events.

Destination Fridays were held six times a year in 2014 on the first Friday of the month. Destinations were Mardi Gras/New Orleans, South Africa, Paris, Brazil, the Greek Isles and Ghana, Africa. The attendance for Destination Friday events has varied from 175 to 200 per event and a high percentage of these were first-time visitors. Each destination theme drew visitors from the region being honored. Due to its successful first year, Destination Fridays are now being held throughout 2015, each one featuring a new and exciting destination.