Artists — and art lovers — of all types packed downtown today.
Perfect spring weather gave extra zest to the vibe of Westport’s 51st annual Fine Arts Festival, which celebrates both creativity and community.
The Westport Downtown Association event runs today (Saturday) until 5 p.m. Tomorrow’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for more details.
Several musicians perform each day.
Vendors like Savvy + Grace offer local products.
Officer Ned Batlin and friend. There are plenty of kids’ activities too.
Westport Downtown Association president Maxx Crowley.
Westport town arts curator Kathie Motes Bennewitz is one of the judges.
Political protest.
(All photos/Dan Woog)
It’s a shame you had to show a pic of the highly offensive lone protester…who, btw, forgot the last word of his sign “…Hamas!” In an otherwise delightful Westport festival!
Very disappointing.
The festival is a morgue.
The protestor has the right to express her view too. Does diversity include diversity of opinion too?!
Of course! As long as it’s of the variety approved by the far left.
The protestor was part of what went on. I attempted to show a wide variety of the day. I’m not sure why I shouldn’t have shown it.
I’m not sure why the arts festival was changed to Memorial Day weekend. So many people are away or have made previous plans!
The mid-July date was always the hottest weekend of the year. Sitting out on Main Street (or Parker Harding Plaza) was even hotter. Plenty of people are away in the summer too — plus the beach and backyard pools are a mid-summer draw.
This is now part of our Memorial Day weekend. It’s a great addition to the late May calendar, in my opinion.
And from what I hear, the artists are thrilled not to bake in the heat.
One of the best exhibits i’ve seen in Westport .
Annette Poitau’s painting were so beautiful and inspiring.
Great pics Dan!
Agree in July it’s usually too hot ! It’s Dans blog – he can post whatever he chooses- I am thankful for it! Happy Memorial Day Dan!
The protester looks like the same girl that was arrested for defacing the crosswalk yesterday!
I thought so too. Is she a Westporter?
Love all these pics Dan! Hopefully you’ll share more from Sunday too!
Yes, it is hot in July!!! But what about the weekend after Memorial Day weekend.? That’s kind of a downer.?
The protester must be addressing Hamas who started the war most heinously and monstrously (more evil the more we hear). She must be talking to Hamas military leadership and government who placed its Gazan citizens (including the babies) in harms way without any protection or aid; who took and killed Israeli and other nation’s hostages as they slept or participated in music on a holy day; who promises more 10/7s of gleeful videotaped torture, abuse, repeated mob rape and possibly sex slavery, kidnapping and killing; who continues to promote urban warfare; who (alone or with other Iran proxies) fires aerial attacks at Israeli civilians; who attacks and steals from aid vehicles; who depressed and oppressed Gazans after Gaza was turned over (i.e. “freed”) by Israel to the Gazans in 2006 and Hamas assumed the government in 2007; who smuggled in arms and spent development funds on terror tunnels, warfare, and multifaceted smearing of Israel; and who dismissed all generous attempts at peace and has obstructed all efforts by Israel in forming accords with other Gulf states. While Hamas leaves Gazans vulnerable and hides in civilian crowds and buildings, using Gazans as “human shields”, Israel sends millions of notices of unsafe areas, identifies exit routes, and takes exceptional measures to reduce and has greatly reduced civilian casualties as US military experts acknowledge (even when Hamas places their people in the line of fire). Civilian losses are regretted, HOWEVER THE PROTESTER MUST RECOGNIZE THAT TERMINATION OF COMBAT IS IN HAMAS’ COURT — HOSTAGE RELEASE AND SURRENDER OF THE WAR AND THE DISARMING OF GAZA IS THE ANSWER SHE MUST BE PROTESTING FOR. While Israel must defend its people, and bury its dead, and ferret out a most bloodthirsty truly genocidal clan, and seek to find sequestered hostages, and combat slanders and lies (Remember the Gazan hospital bombed by Islamic terrorists not IDF, and the ficititious casualty numbers furnished by Hamas and now rejected by the anti-Israel UN!), Israel is faced with opening “aid” gates closed by Egypt; providing security of aid transports to civilians when under attack by Hamas and other militants; planning how to ensure the new Gaza is not a repeat of Hamas Gaza; securing the new US-installed pier and aid from it that is also attacked by Hamas; and countering measures of UNRWA staff and Al Jazeera alumni media supporting Hamas. SO, I gotta assume this woman is protesting Hamas and company and their barbaric, peace-averse, life-devaluing, warmongering strategy of harm and irresponsibility and scapegoating. At the end of the day, the protester has her right to express herself. BUT I PREFER TO REMEMBER, WITH GREAT APPRECIATION, THE EXPRESSION OF SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE, TALENTED, NEW DIMENSIONAL, ORIGINAL ARTISTS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE AND MUSICIANS ON ONE OF THE NICEST DAYS OF THE YEAR IN A SPECIAL COMMUNITY.
Keep repeating the same lies if it makes you feel better.
What about what he said is a lie? Please clarify.
Fabulous thanks for sharing all these great photos … so happy the weather held out for the 👩🎨 artists
That protestor was disgusting. I tried to engage her in a conversation about the dead Israeli babies. She called me, “creative”.
Anti semitism has no home in Westport.