It’s back and bigger than ever! Plano ArtFest has expanded from one day to a two-day festival, running April 22 and 23, to provide a wide range of activities for every kind of art lover. The free community celebration will bring musical, cultural and artistic events together to give local art patrons a taste of everything available to them in Plano. This year, the festival has been broken up to provide two unique experiences catering to the variety of Plano community members.
“Be prepared to experience Plano in a whole new way,” said Alex Hargis, the executive director of the Historic Downtown Plano Association (HDPA). “We’ll have something for everyone.”
The festival originated back in 2015 when HDPA hosted its first ever Chalk It Up competition. The friendly rivalry brought community members together to appreciate the artistic talent in the area. In 2016 the event was renamed Plano Artfest and expanded to include a marketplace of local artists. After seeing the hype increase in the first two years, HDPA knew they wanted to go even bigger and better for their third year.
Saturday, April 22 from 5-11pm
Come out Saturday night to get a taste of the edgier art scene. Check out the Hub Streat Stage at McCall Plaza to listen to a line-up of great DJs and artists, including headlining funk band Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, originally from Austin. Before finding a spot next to the stage, stop by the Artisan Lounge offering free samples of Artisan Vapor Company’s e-liquids and Deep Ellum Brewing Company’s local craft beers. Walk through the DART exhibit, the visual art aspect of the night, which features bold installations curated by Joshua King, Dallas artist and co-founder of the AURORA festival, and other Dallas-Fort Worth artists.
Saturday’s Hub Streat Stage line-up in McCall Plaza:
5-5:45 p.m. | Evening Wear
6-6:45 p.m. | Andrew Tinker
7-8 p.m. | Kirk Thurmond & The Millennials
8:30-9:45 p.m. | Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
10-11 p.m. | The Good Taste Collective
Sunday, April 23 from 10am-6pm
Sunday’s activities feature traditional art festival activities that the whole family can enjoy. Walk through Haggard Park to shop from the Makers Market, a group of nearly 40 local vendors selling everything from jewelry to pottery to furniture and food, or participate in the Make-It Take-It Station, a craft station that lets you construct your own masterpiece and then walk away with another person’s artistic creation. There will also be a kids’ zone set up with bounce houses, a kids’ chalk art station and various craft tables. Stop by the community stage to catch live performances from arts organizations like the Plano Symphony Orchestra, Chamberlain Ballet and the Collin College Dance Department.
Plus, the festival’s favorite community competition is back! Chalk It Up, the free sidewalk mural competition, kicks off at the beginning of the day’s festivities. Both amateur and professional artists can compete against each other for prizes given out by the Plano Art Association.
Whether you are looking for a night out with live music and adult beverages or a day full of family-friendly community activities, everyone can find something to get excited about at Plano ArtFest.
Plano Artfest 2016 // Click to enlarge:
Great to see!!