It’s Memorial weekend, and my local area hosts “Riverfest” every year. Like most people attending Riverfest, I initially came for the festival itself. There were food trucks, live music, local vendors, and what has become my favorite Riverfest event: the wiener dog races. I wasn’t expecting one of the highlights of the day to be tucked away inside a fine art tent.
Riverfest Felt Like the Start of Summer
Because Riverfest is always on Memorial weekend, it marks the unofficial start of summer for me. It’s hot already at 9:30 in the morning with the sun shining down on me. The trees are blowing in the breeze, and it smells like the river. The crowds are still pretty thin this early in the morning.
I love the energy of small-town festivals. Everyone is in a good mood, casually walking around and interacting with the vendor booths. You see people of all ages walking the river trails, and it’s a great way to showcase this amazing resource that tends to be underutilized. I love these events because they get people out of their house and interact with the community.
The Fine Art Tent Was the Best Surprise
As I made my way to the wiener day racetrack, I started seeing signs for “fine art tent”, and naturally I decided to follow it. The tent was tucked behind the main entrance to the festival, but the signage was good, making it easy to find. There were a handfull of booths showcasing local artists. At festivals like this, I was expecting mostly craft vendors and hobbyists, but I was surprised by the number of artists exhibiting professionally produced work.
I was drawn to a booth of watercolor paintings from a local artist named Michael Bulloch. I loved the vibrant colors, and I recognized some of the scenery in the paintings. The style seemed vaguely familiar in another way. I stood there for a moment trying to figure out why the paintings felt so familiar. Then it hit me. Years ago, I had won a signed print from a raffle. What began as a quick stop at a local art booth suddenly felt much more personal and that I am a small part of a larger story. It reminded me that art has a way of staying with us, even when we don’t think about it every day.
Seeing Artists in Person Changes Everything
Not only did I recognize the watercolors in one booth, but I also recognized some familiar faces as well. Flo, she manages creative local events often, I work with her on summer projects, and I used to work with her when I first began my “day job” career. I was introduced to another artist there who creates digital art and explained to me that it’s very similar to creating art with traditional mediums, however, she uses a tablet now instead of a brush. She explained to me traditional painting hurts her hands now, and that’s why she transitioned to digital art. Very cool story of perseverance.
Another familiar face was a local artist named Karen Ellsbury. I was first introduced to her art when I was a very young adult. My best friend bought me my first signed print from Karen, which I also still have hanging in my home today. I think she thought of me when she bought it because it was a little dark, and a little abstract, kind of like me. I’ve kept it all these years because of the interest it brings, and the memory of realizing that I really love art. Chatting with the artist, I learned that she doesn’t paint in that style anymore and that her style changes with different events in her life. It was interesting to me because I have followed her all these years and have always wondered if there was a correlation to her style evolution.
I walked into the fine art tent feeling pretty intimidated, as I usually do, however, finding that one familiar face made it easier to start conversations with the artists. It made me feel like I was taking a step toward feeling more comfortable doing it in other venues. I enjoyed being able to hear their personal creative journeys.
Art Festivals Don’t Have to Be Intimidating
Sometimes walking into an art festival makes me feel out of place and I start to feel a little awkward. If you are anything like me, a local festival of any kind is a great way to get your feet wet. They are super accessible and most of the time art is more affordable since there are local options.
You don’t need thousands of dollars or a gallery experience to start collecting art. You can start in your own backyard and support local talent. You might even make a new friend along the way.
Would I Go Again?
Every year I go to Riverfest for the atmosphere, the food, and yes, now the wiener dog races. This year, however, the fine art tent ended up being the highlight for me. It reminded me that some of the best and most meaningful art discoveries don’t happen in galleries or big cities, and they can be tucked into a little community festival instead.
Every town hosts its own festivals. I encourage you to go to your own towns and search for others that are nearby. You can check out my personal strategy on finding festivals and events here if you’re interested: “How I Find Art Festivals and Affordable Art Events Throughout the Year“
