Festival of the Arts

This week marks one of our absolute favorite weeks in Oklahoma City. We love hearing and seeing the talents of our fellow Oklahomans and there is no better locale for that than the annual Festival of the Arts.

The six-day event is an annual rite of passage to welcome spring in Oklahoma City. The festival, now in its 48th year, literally transforms downtown OKC into a bazaar-like atmosphere complete with colorful tents and thousands of attendees. The festival had humble beginnings in 1967, when Arts Council committee members personally sought out artists to exhibit and even made sandwiches and hot dogs for attendees. But today, the Festival of the Arts is one of the largest and most successful in the country.

Here are some things to remember when you visit the Festival of the Arts:

• The art is world-class. More than 500 artists submitted work for the Festival jury process. The 141 chosen artists are some of the nation’s finest. Artworks include oil paintings, watercolors,   photography, ceramics, glass, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, wood, and more!
• There’s plenty of entertainment. Nearly 300 entertainers will take the stage during the festival. From the big band sounds of the 145th Army Bank to the bluegrass sounds of Southbound Mule and choral groups such as the Sweet Adelines to Irish step dancers, Mexican folk dancers and ballet artists, the talent of Oklahomans is hard to dispute. 
• Family fun is important too. There’s plenty to keep the youngsters entertained at the festival. Kids can create their own works of art at the Children’s Art Field. Other family-friendly activities include face painting and a creation station. The tikes are also sure to enjoy the Young-at-Art Mart, a children-only shopping site where all artwork is $5 or less. 
• Bring your appetite! From appetizers to desserts, the festival is also a celebration of the culinary arts. Dozens of vendors bring their delicacies to the festival and each one is partnered with a local arts organization, so each bite you take supports the arts in central Oklahoma. Go ahead and expand your palate with daily culinary arts demonstrations from restaurants such as Sushi Neko , VAST, Rococo, Paseo Grill and many more.