Festival of the Arts

[shawnw]

Great to have the festival back. Would be nice if they would push tents out into street further so you don't have to navigate the curb and the low trees when looking at the booths. Also, those booths seemed to be traffic jams as egress was limited between booths.

agreed, I think it's been this way for years, but it _felt_ worse this year for some reason

[shawnw]

Any discussion of moving it to Scissortail or do people prefer the smaller venue?

I prefer it at Bicentennial because I live just four blocks away :-)

[catcherinthewry]

Any discussion of moving it to Scissortail or do people prefer the smaller venue?

I'd like to see it move to Scissortail, but I've been told that the city made a substantial investment in electrical and water hookups for Bicentennial so I expect it to stay there for the foreseeable future.

[Pete]

They opened yesterday. Runs through Sunday 4/24.

[CCOKC]

I have already been twice. The food booths are back this year!

[Laramie]

I have already been twice. The food booths are back this year!

Any smoked Turkey Legs or Strawberry Crepes...

[BoulderSooner]

Any smoked Turkey Legs or Strawberry Crepes...

https://www.artscouncilokc.com/culinary-arts/

[midtownokcer]

It's been a long three years without Strawberries Newport!

[Ross MacLochness]

great drone pic!

[Dustin]

I miss it being right next to MBG.

[sooner88]

We had a gyro, biang biang noodles and their jalapeno, chicken and cheese eggroll last night, and all were excelent. Weather was perfect once it cooled down, and it was packed. It's taken me some time to get used to it being at the new location vs. MBG, but it's growing on me. This is probably my favorite event of the year in the city, hopefully the weather holds off a little for the weekend.

[okatty]

You picked better than we did - split an Indian Taco which was very average (and maybe not even that). But regardless, the fun is strolling around and seeing all the amazingly talented artists on display. Really a fantastic event.

[Sean21]

Definitely one our top events in the city every year.

[Pete]

Setting up for their 4/25 - 4/30 run:

[BG918]

Hopefully this brings some much-needed rain to OKC IYKYK

[midtownokcer]

Hopefully this brings some much-needed rain to OKC IYKYK

Well, it looks like it's going to happen!

[unfundedrick]

We went today and everything almost overrun with people. The weather was perfect and that really brought the crowds. All of downtown was really that way though with the Memorial Run events happening as well. We took advantage of the free streetcar and both times it was basically standing room only.

[okatty]

^Same here. Don't recall being at AF when it was more crowded. Beautiful day after a wet cold week.

[goldenHurricane22]

I am assuming it was synergy with the wonderful weather, Festival of the Arts, and the Memorial races (reported 19,000+ runners), but wow, it seemed like downtown was packed this weekend. I found myself waiting at a streetcar stop this evening...with 30+ other people at the same stop (being free this weekend seemed to make more people want to try it). Honestly, makes me think that so long as OKC metro continues its growth in general population and downtown continues to increase in density in the coming decades, that this level of crowds will become commonplace and really make the core have this vibrancy. While waiting to start the marathon this morning, was fun to have talked to many runners from out of town who were first time visitors and hearing how the much they were enjoying their trip.

[Pete]

[Tyson]

Our city is so beautiful. Thanks for these pics, Pete.

[soonerguru]

Incredible photos.

[Jeepnokc]

They closed early today due to weather. Closed at 2.

[OkieinGeorgia]

Wow! These images are so great, Pete. They actually look like architectural renderings, they are so pretty. lol.

Having moved from OKC I have become even more in love with OKC and what it has become and continues to become. Every visit brings me back to a feeling of HOME, yet I spend much of the trip seeing and discovering what has changed. That's a true testament to the spirit of what is constantly happening in OKC right now. We're in the middle of building a house here in SE Georgia but my wife and I are already shopping for property in OKC that we are going to invest in once we are done building our house here.

My wife moved to OKC in the early 2000's a bit unwillingly and never hid her disdain for living in Oklahoma and OKC. But, the last 2 years we lived there we downsized and moved to the Paseo/Uptown 23rd area and it even made her fall in love with OKC as well. Seeing the pictures of this event really make me miss home because it was absolutely an event that we always went to every year. I'm looking forward to the future when we have our property there and can plan to be there for the Arts Festival as well as the NBA playoffs, OU football season, Christmas time, and pretty much anytime for the amazing restaurants and food scene that OKC has become.

Thanks for the pics, Pete. They certainly hit me right in the feels.

[Rover]

Tried to go yesterday but it was hard to get to it with all the streets blocked. Finally gave up and went home.