The Suncoast Arts Fest, which attracts artists and art lovers from near and far, will stage its 12th annual event at The Shops at Wiregrass on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22.
The festival will showcase 126 artists coming from nearby communities, and from as far away as Alaska, California, Quebec and Tennessee.
Artists and craftsman must compete to gain entry into the show, and this year’s exhibitors were selected from a field of 170 applicants.
The artists represent a wide array of categories, including ceramics/clay, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood.
They will compete for $14,000 in cash prizes.
The festival is a popular event in Wesley Chapel, drawing as many as 95,000 visitors when the weather is nice, according to Jennifer Douglas, festival manager.
Festival-goers also will be able to enjoy live entertainment.
On Jan. 21, The Richey Suncoast Kid’s Theatre and The Eighth Note, a children’s a capella group, will kick off the festival. The lineup that day also includes Sassafras Bluegrass Band, When in Rome and Hope Darling Band.
The lineup on Jan. 22 includes John Emil, The De Lei’ed Parrots and Sarasota Slim.
Other highlights will include a performance by the Brandon Ballet on Jan. 22, and roving performers from the Bay Area Renaissance Festival on both days.
There will be lots of stuff for the kids to do, too.
The Kids’ Art Garden, presented by Suncoast Credit Union, will feature free art projects, a scavenger hunt through the festival and face painting. The Art Makerspace allow will have projects and activities for people of all ages.
Other event features include professional chalk art, custom silk-screened T-shirts and a student Emerging Artist exhibit, featuring works by Pasco County elementary, middle and high school students.
The Suncoast Arts Fest benefits “Arts for Kids,” a mini-grant program, which provides supplemental arts education funding in public, private and charter schools in Pasco County.
For a full entertainment schedule, visit SuncoastArtsFest.com.
Suncoast Arts Fest
When: Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, at the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Wesley Chapel
How much: Free admission and parking.
Details: Arts festival showcases 126 craftsman and artists in categories including ceramics/clay, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood. Event also includes live entertainment, chalk art murals, kids’ arts areas, and other activities.
Published January 18, 2017
