Awaken your senses during Festival of the Arts in downtown OKC April 25-30

Spring has finally sprung in Oklahoma City! If the budding leaves and flowers, warmer temps and gusty south winds aren’t enough to convince you, then perhaps knowing that the Festival of the Arts begins in earnest April 25 will.

Long considered a rite of spring in OKC for more than 50 years, the Arts Council Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts runs April 25-30 at Bicentennial Park downtown. Throughout the six-day event, guests can indulge their senses in the various visual and performing arts from top artists and artisans, as well as savory and sweet delights from the vast array of local restaurants and family-owned businesses.

“Since 1967, Festival of the Arts has been a tradition in downtown Oklahoma City, attracting more than 650,000 visitors from around the world each year and helping us achieve Arts Council Oklahoma City’s mission of bringing the arts and community together,” said Arts Council OKC Executive Director Angela Cozby in a news release. “Festival grows and changes each year, and we can’t wait for you to see the incredible event that staff and volunteers have spent countless hours planning for the community.”

Event organizers make it their goal each and every year to create an arts festival that builds on the success of the previous year’s event. This year’s arts festival is no different, welcoming 144 artists from across the U.S. and around the globe to this community celebration of the visual and performing arts, many of whom will be making their festival debuts. The featured artists were selected from a pool of 400 applicants, so you know their work has to be outstanding!

Festival goers will discover a plethora of artwork as varied as the artists who created them that they can either purchase or simply enjoy seeing and experiencing up close. From mixed media to jewelry to photography, there is something for everyone.

Besides the abundance of artwork from some of the most talented artists in America, guests can also experience delicious items from the 22 food vendors along the always-popular International Food Row, including nine new food vendors, as well as the eight food carts scattered throughout the park’s perimeter. If meat isn’t your thing, 20 of the 30 vendors will be offering a vegetarian option.

If you are a music aficionado or enjoy the performing arts, Festival of the Arts welcomes more than 100 local artists to showcase their talents and skills on two outdoor stages throughout the nearly weeklong event. Some of the genres you will hear include rock, classical, country, jazz and hip hop. There will also be live performances in dance, magic, theatre and more.

Parents will want to visit the expanded children’s area where children of all ages can participate in a variety of hands-on art activities, such as face painting and pottery making.

Festival hours, rain or shine, will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Parking is available in the Arts District Garage just south of City Hall and in lots and garages throughout downtown. Street parking is also available throughout the downtown area.

To learn more details about the 2023 Festival of the Arts, including other year-round events and celebrations Arts Council Oklahoma City hosts, please visit their website at artscouncilokc.com.