Last year, the Westport Downtown Association moved its Fine Arts Festival from mid-July to Memorial Day weekend. The goal was more pleasant weather than the traditional bake-on-the-asphalt date, along with a holiday kickoff to summer.
It didn’t happen. COVID canceled the nearly-50-year-old event.
But the Westport Fine Arts Festival returns this year. It’s set for next weekend: May 29 and 30 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
And — quite by accident — it’s more than just the first townwide event of the season. It’s also the first big gathering since the lifting of most major COVID restrictions.
A scene from the 2019 Fine Arts Festival. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The 48th annual Fine Arts Festival draws artists from across the country to Main Street. Their works are available for sale at a wide range of prices.
The WDA is making this all-are-welcome show as local possible. All artists will receive gift cards to use at local restaurants and cafes.
There’s live music, and food from Don Memo and Walrus Alley. Children can take selfies at 3 murals painted specially for the festival by MoCA Westport, the Artists’ Collective of Westport and One River. The (very apt) theme of the murals is “New Beginnings.”
It’s a new beginning indeed. For a very old, and cherished, tradition.
I believe the Fine Arts Festival is on May 29 & 30 (not 28 & 29).
Bill Barron
Yep – thank you! Dates have been changed in the story.
Hey Walrus, you may not have thought of this but actual humans live around you so how about tapping the brakes on the amplified live OUTDOOR music you’re blasting into our neighborhood til late hours? Oh, and you need a permit for that outdoor eating area that you’ve turned into concert venue.
Stop by the Westport Library’s big Memorial Day Weekend Book Sale, too! The Book Sale starts Friday, May 28th, from 9am to 6pm, Saturday May 29th from 9am to 5pm, and Sunday, May 30th (half-price day!) from Noon to 5pm.