Sat 8/3 @ 10AM-6PM
For those folks who like to saunter down Lakewood’s Detroit Avenue, there’s no better day every year than the Lakewood Arts Festival, which annually closes and transforms the busy thoroughfare between Arthur and Belle avenues into an artistic haven of artisans, musicians, food vendors and more.
This year the 42nd annual affair is scheduled for Sat 8/3 @ 10am-6pm in Lakewood.
“It’s different from any other festival,” Lakewood Arts Festival Board Chair Karolyn Isenhart said. “We’ve got three stages throughout the festival. It’s kind of a relaxed, take-your-own-pace event.”
The juried exhibition features 182 artists from across the country all vying for Best of Show, Best Creative Presentation and Best New Artist awards.
“It’s the best day of the year,” Isenhart said. “The festival has a great Lakewood vibe where there are so many things to discover about the arts. Some people love paintings, some people love prints, some people love photography or art glass.
“Other people just come to be in the community and hear live music. We tried to make sure the festival has really something for everyone.”
Also attending the Lakewood Arts Festival once again will be the Cleveland Museum of Art’s mobile art studio Studio Go, which delivers hands-on art experiences.
Throughout the event live music is performed at the Mars Stage (Mars and Detroit avenues) featuring artists such as Assene M’Baye Senegalese Drummers and Cats on Holiday, as well as at the Park Stage (Cook and Detroit avenues) with the likes of Ki Allen and Punch Drunk Tagalongs.
“When booking entertainment, we want to make sure it’s a nice cross section of music,” Isenhart said.
At the Beck Stage (St. Charles and Detroit avenues) programming includes face painting, live painting, demonstrations and a unique pottery sale. Overall, there will also be roughly 30 booths operated by nonprofits offering food, beverages, products and activities for children. Food trucks will also be present.
Playing a key role in keeping the Lakewood Arts Festival fresh is the fact every year organizers receive more than 300 vendor applications. This guarantees both attendees and vendors will see new faces throughout the day.
“We hear that the artists always love coming to Lakewood because they meet so many great shoppers and buyers, and that they have a good day,” Isenhart said. “For the buyers, you get to come to a closed Detroit Avenue and there are so many different artists. It’s just a spectrum of styles and techniques.”
[Written by John Benson]
Lakewood, OH 44107
Lakewood, OH 44107