Scottsdale Arts Festival Set for March 8-10 at Civic Center Park
Each year, more than 25,000 visitors descend on the Valley of the Sun for the Scottsdale Arts Festival, and this figure will likely grow even larger this year when the event returns to Civic Center Park.
Slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 8, 9 and 10 at the park located at 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, this year’s 49th edition of the Scottsdale Arts Festival will welcome more than 170 jury-selected artisans offering up everything from fine art, jewelry and sculpture to works created through ceramics, glass, acrylics and other mediums. Festival-goers will enjoy live performances from a broad range of local musicians (think indie, alt-rock, Cuban and jazz artists, among others), entertainment opportunities in the vein of giant yard games and hands-on art activities, and plenty of food and drink offerings from some of the city and region’s top food trucks and eateries throughout the festivities.
“The Festival has been a part of Scottsdale’s DNA for many years and is poised to remain a mainstay in the arts and culture calendar,” said Scottsdale Arts Festival Director Jamie Prins. “Its long-running history and reputation in the community is showcased with local, national and international awards and recognition.”
Each year, the festival spotlights a different featured artist, and in 2019, award-winning artist Michelle McDowell Smith will have the honor. Smith’s current body of work, which showcase acrylic paints, handcrafted papers and other mixed-medium materials, earned an impressive list of accolades since it debuted in 2014, and festival-goers will have a chance to check it all out in person alongside the works of the state and region’s other immensely talented artisans.
A major fundraiser for Scottsdale Arts, proceeds generated from the festival help support and finance the performances, exhibitions, installations and arts education and outreach programs presented by Scottsdale Arts.
