Art Happenings

With a firm focus on the kickoff of Festival Fete’s 2014 summer season, we haven’t had much time to check out all of the exciting, inspiring stuff going on all around us. Read on for some highlights we stumbled upon for the weekend, whether you’re sticking close by or traveling around greater New England…

Providence

Saturday, July 12th: From noon -10 pm, the public is invited to the Providence Rink in Kennedy Plaza to paint their piece of the 10,000 square foot vinyl mural, entitled “Within Providence.” Paint your piece of a map of the city’s transit system created by artists from all over Rhode Island. Live entertainment, food trucks and more.

Admission is free to Waterfire, the spectacular evening event starting at sunset this Saturday, 7/12 featuring artful bonfires along downtown Providence’s waterways.  Followed every Sunday by The Providence Flea, a thrift shoppers delight, the Providence River greenway is alive all summer.

 

Wickford

Saturday, 7/12 & Sunday, 7/13: Enjoy free admission and tax free shopping at the 52nd annual Wickford Art Festival. Located in pretty Wickford Village, peruse the work of over 200 fine artists from all over New England and beyond.

South Shore

Saturday, July 12: Check out the 2014 Etsy Arts Market at the Pinehills Village Green in Plymouth, Mass. Festival Fete favorite, Jen Black of Islandesign, will be there! Featuring local Etsy Shop owners and their handmade goods including jewelry, apparel, home decor, children and pet accessories and more.

Greater Boston

Friday July 18th – Sunday, July 20th: On Revere Beach outside Boston, you’ll find the National Sand Sculpting Festival. Over 350,000 will attend the annual event, now in it’s 11th year, to enjoy the sand maneuvering talents of master sculptors, fireworks, gourmet food trucks, live music and more.

 

Springfield, Mass

July 8th – July 13th: The Brimfield Antique Show and Flea Market runs it’s second show of the year with seemingly unending tented fields as more than 5,000 antiques dealers sell their goods along a one-mile stretch of Route 20 in rural New England at the largest outdoor antique flea market of it’s kind. Find anything and everything here.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

An alternative to outdoor film screenings, the Prescott Park Arts Festival offers open air theater productions of Shrek every Thursday through Sunday through August 24th. For kids of all ages, reserve a blanket or table and be inspired by the dazzling sets and scenery provided by this live performance along the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth New Hampshire. The Sheafe Warehouse Gallery, also located in the Park, is open simultaneously and shows the work of various New Hampshire artists.

Vermont

Saturday, July 12th & Sunday, July 13th: If you’re planning to be near Burlington, then please head to the The Vermont Farms Tour, where over 40 artists, small farms and artisans open their doors and invite the public to discover the heart of the islands of Lake Champlain. Gorgeous scenery, art and adventure.

And Finally, Closer to Home

Saturday, July 26th: Our newest addition to the 2014 lineup will take Festival Fete just over the Rhode Island border and into the Bay State for the first time! The Emerald Square Mall will provide ample space for a show grand both in scale and delivery. We’re sure this fresh audience will welcome Festival Fete’s diverse semblance of jewelers, painters, sculptures, artists and crafters. Juxtaposed outside over 140 traditional retail stores, the unique wares found only at our festivals will compliment the mall’s offerings in a truly original and, as always, creative way. This latest and largest venue is conveniently located at the intersections of Routes 1 and 295, so save the date and plan to spend the day. We’re pulling out all the stops here!