Festival of the Arts 2008

[metro]

It's that time of year again folks!



April 22-27
Downtown Oklahoma City
Since 1967, the Festival of the Arts has been Oklahoma City's rite of spring. The Festival is a community celebration of the visual arts, performing arts and culinary arts.
The 2008 Festival of the Arts takes place April 22-27, 2008 in Downtown Oklahoma City at the Festival Plaza, Stage Center and the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Hours are Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 11a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is free. Pets are not allowed.

The Visual Arts include 144 Plaza Artists from across the nation that exhibit on Hudson Avenue, Windscapes, a kinetic art exhibit in the MyriadGardens, Environs, a furniture showcase in StageCenter and a large-scale SculpturePark exhibit in the Stage Center Lawn.

The Culinary Arts consist of the International Food Row. Each food vendor is partnered with an area non-profit organization.

The Performing Arts includes four stages of non-stop performing arts and entertainment.

Arts for Children and Families include hands-on activities in the Children’s Area for just $2. The Young-At-Art Mart returns as the children only shopping venue with all artwork affordably priced for $5 or less. Families should also visit face painting and Pottery Place for more fun!

For more information call (405) 270-4848.

Festival of the Arts | Arts Council of Oklahoma City

[Yamaguchigirl]

This is one of my favorite things to do. I'm always there multiple days. Let the art begin!

[Misty]

I go every year, I even came up for it every year I lived in Austin. My crew has a tradition of making fun of...I mean watching the belly dancers every year, they always perform Saturday. Yes, I know it's a mean tradition but MY GOD! You just can't get better free entertainment. You just can't.

[AFCM]

Don't forget to stop by and watch your's truly perform:

Jake Poire - Solo Guitarist

Saturday, 26 April
7:30 - 9:00P
Deck Stage

[Karried]

oh that's right! I'm going to try to come down that day ... my sons would love to see you play.

[Andy1807]

anyone going to Angels and Friends?

[so1rfan]

I go multiple times as well. I usually take just my daughter the first day right after school and we always paint one of those little vases. Then we eat an Indian Taco (I have found that it makes it easier to eat if you bring a fork from home). We then go straight to the face painting and the youth part. Then its back to the food court for strawberries newport. We then walk up and down the artists tents and I let her guide. When she sees something she likes I make sure she tells the artist what she likes and why. By then she is tired and we will go pick up our vase and go home.

I'll go back by myself later in the week during the day and walk the art alone. I like to converse with the artists, especially the photographers. I'll end up getting an upside down pizza and a mudslide.

On the weekend I might go Saturday and Sunday. It is fun when there is lots of people. Thats when the wife, my mom and my girl all go. I always eat the indian food with the fried spinich and get the fried peaches. My little girl will play with hundreds of kids in that fabric field. I'll show the wife some of my favorite pieces while my mom embarrasses me by telling the artists about my own work.

When its over I'll wish I would have went a few more times.

[EvokeCoffee]

We took some time last night to head down to the festival. It is nights like last night that remind you how cool our city is and will be in the future.

I love the fact that so many people pack the downtown area for are, food, music, and community. It is great rubbing elbows with all your neighbors!

There were quite a few great booths this year. It has been years since I have had a chance to get down there. I talked to several artists who where all from out of state. Does anyone have a list of local artist that are showcasing?

[metro]

I wish the Arts Council would expand the Festival every year instead of allowing "x" amount of exhibitors. I understand exclusivity and the value of it, but at the same time, you have to expand at least a small amount each year. No reason why the Arts Festival isn't twice as big as it is now, it's been uber successful for decades now.

[so1rfan]

We took some time last night to head down to the festival. It is nights like last night that remind you how cool our city is and will be in the future.

I love the fact that so many people pack the downtown area for are, food, music, and community. It is great rubbing elbows with all your neighbors!

There were quite a few great booths this year. It has been years since I have had a chance to get down there. I talked to several artists who where all from out of state. Does anyone have a list of local artist that are showcasing?

Here is a list of all artists and where they are from:
Visual Arts | Arts Council of Oklahoma City

[so1rfan]

I wish the Arts Council would expand the Festival every year instead of allowing "x" amount of exhibitors. I understand exclusivity and the value of it, but at the same time, you have to expand at least a small amount each year. No reason why the Arts Festival isn't twice as big as it is now, it's been uber successful for decades now.

Where would they put them? Hudson street is full from end to end. They used to put a few tents along the stage center but those are gone this year.

I will say I think this years Festival does seem a little smaller than the past. But I don't think that any bigger will be any better.

If I were to add anything, it would be a area to showcase local amatuer artists work.

[JLCinOKC]

Maybe when the Core 2 Shore plan is realized they can stretch the Festival down to the "Central Park" area.

[Blazerfan11]

We went to the festival in Ft Worth this weekend. My goodness was it crowded! I hope ours has a good turnout but not that good....I mean, it was really not much fun to tell you the truth! We basically just wandered around a few hours and then headed out of the vicinity....

[EvokeCoffee]

Here is a list of all artists and where they are from:
Visual Arts | Arts Council of Oklahoma City

Thank you so1rfan. I guess I should have looked a bit harder!

[mmonroe]

Some pictures from last night at the arts festival.

[kevinpate]

pretty, but i admit to being surprised we didn't have a full-on frog strangler today since the AF is underway

[Doug Loudenback]

My wife and I finally made it to the festival at 3:30 yesterday ... her daughter was performing at 5:00 in the water stage. Most pics are at this location, Doug Dawgz Blog: Arts Festival 2008 , but several are below:

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[dcsooner]

Doug,
that looked like alot of fun!!!

[Doug Loudenback]

Yes, it was! Wish we had had more time, though. Ground level pics don't really show the booths and the crowd well ... it was packed and the art was quite good, I thought. I'd like to hear the statistics ... it was a beautiful sunny day!

[Doug Loudenback]

Here's some crops from the dogs & martinis, etc., booth. Loved those dogs!

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[Steve]

Doug, I loved the dogs booth as well. I went with my son on Saturday and the place was packed! We spent much of our afternoon in the children's area - expanded on the east parking lot - and I could only marvel at how much the festival has grown since I used to go with my parents when it was still at Bicentennial Park in front of the Civic Center Music Hall. The newspaper reported today that the festival had 750,000 in attendance. Of course, all of these estimates are just that - and I wouldn't be surprised if it were higher.

[metro]

Steve, I saw you and your family at the festival.

I also took several pics and will try and post soon (not of Steve, of the festival!).

[Doug Loudenback]

Steve, I'm trying to find your article ... at least, I think that it was your article, querying whether the festival saved downtown ... I plan to COPY it into my blog post, with credit (of course) since I couldn't possibly do that history as well. Where is it? I'm still looking ...

[Steve]

Here's the link:
Arts Festival helped keep downtown alive | NewsOK.com

[Doug Loudenback]

Gracias!