This weekend’s got potential to be the busiest of 2018 thus far at our friendly neighborhood marketplace. We’ll have 100 artists from all over the country, live music, pop-up performances, and lots of merriment all weekend long.
Here are some tips for enjoying our annual Stanley Arts Festival:
- Start the weekend off with a date night!
Our arts festival is free to attend on Saturday or Sunday, but we’re kicking off the event on Friday night with a ticketed fundraiser in The Hangar to raise money for CherryArts, the organization that produces the event. They provide arts experiences year-round to people who might not otherwise get them. The kick-off party includes a sneak peek of art and artists, an open bar, tasty bites, and live entertainment, all for a great cause. Tickets are available here and they’re around $40, which is a bargain if you eat and drink during the festivities.
- Talk with an artist.
One of my favorite parts of this weekend is getting to chat with people who make their living creating art. We’ll have 100 artists from all over the country on site, and they’ve each got an interesting story or two to share. Say hi to Sally Jordon, an abstract and impressionist painter based in Colorado whose first career was in education, or to Luke Hobbs, who lives in L.A. and makes industrial chic fixtures and furnishings, like lamps controlled by touch. I bet you’ll walk away inspired.
- Take a selfie in front of the new You Are Beautiful art installation.
There’s this group called You Are Beautiful that produces stickers and other materials with a simple but powerful message: You Are Beautiful. They hosted a Kickstarter last year to put a giant You Are Beautiful art installation into each state in America, and Stanley was chosen as the location for Colorado. We installed the sign this past week on the bridge that leads from our west side to our field, and we are so excited that thousands and thousands of people will walk by this message and be reminded of their own beauty. We say in the Stanifesto that positivity is contagious. Help us spread this message by taking a selfie with our You Are Beautiful sign. Because you are beautiful!
- See some experimental theatre.
If you know Stanley, you know we looooove experimental and immersive theatre, like our previous collaborations with Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The choreographer of last year’s “The Wild Party” is producing a new show that starts and stops at Stanley this fall called “Watching Night Falling.” Catch a sneak peek this Saturday at 3PM, 3:30PM, or 4PM, starting on the patio of The Hangar. Full schedule of weekend performances is here.
- FREE YOGA!
On Sunday morning at 9, our friends from OmFest are hosting a free yoga class in The Field at Stanley right before Stanley Arts Festival opens at 10AM. You’re all invited. RSVP here or just show up in the field with your mat on Sunday morning. That will be followed by a free kickboxing class at Fly Kickbox for new students. They’ve got 16 or so spots, so it’s first come, first serve.
- Rock out to some neo soul
We love the diversity of the musical acts that will perform during Stanley Arts Festival this weekend. That includes local artist Rajdulari, who performs on Sunday between 2:30PM and 4:30PM.
- Buy some art!
I know Christmas is still a few months away, but our Stanley Arts Festival has become one of my favorite places to buy holiday gifts for people I love. Last year the boyfriend and I bought a beautiful cutting board for his parents, and two perfect prints we had framed as gifts for my niece and nephew. There are paintings, light fixtures, linens, jewelry, and the list goes on and on. Don’t forget to pick up something nice for yourself, too. When you do, you’re directly supporting working artists and helping us grow this festive and fun (and free!) annual event.
We are hoping that Stanley is going to be full of happy people all weekend long, so if you live close, please consider walking, biking, or ride sharing to the arts festival. If you do drive, consider parking in the lot at New Legacy Charter School at 2091 Dayton Street and then walking two blocks to Stanley.
Thanks in advance for helping make this weekend a very special one at Stanley, for you and us and everybody. See you there!
Feature Image courtesy of Liz Levy
