The Ponca City Arts Festival is Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10-11, at the Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
More than 30 artists will travel from across the country to set up tents and display their custom works of art for Ponca City to enjoy and buy.
Many artists have been coming to the Ponca City Arts Festival for decades.
“Aside from having five new artists, the festival also attracts long-serving artists who work in a multitude of disciplines," said Lance Garrett, director of the Ponca City Art Center. "Whether you are looking to buy jewelry, paintings, sculpture or pottery, there really is something for everyone at the Ponca City Arts Festival”.
This festival, which began in 1975, is a keystone event in Oklahoma, Garrett said.
"It is yet another example of how Northern Oklahoma holds a vibrant and thriving arts community,” Garrett said.
The festival is held on the grounds of the Art Center each year, at the historic Soldani Mansion.
“To make room for artists, food trucks, and musical acts, we’re blocking off Central Avenue between Eighth and Ninth Streets for the entire weekend," Garrett said. "We’re also putting the children’s activities in the big open lot behind the Art Center to give the kids plenty of room to play and do their arts activities.”
Because the lot in the back has been used for parking in previous years, official festival parking for the public will be located at the Child Development Center. There also is street parking in the neighborhood. Artists and vendors will still have a special sectioned-off area to park in the back lot if they choose.
A local favorite, the Ponca City Arts Festival also serves as a fun and interesting tourism destination. With downtown arts and culture districts popping up around the state and drawing thousands of visitors each month, it’s apparent that a new generation is beginning to see the value of arts in society and young people are flocking to these types of events in droves around the state.
The festival will feature live musical acts, food trucks, a wine vendor and a beer garden. There will be a free children’s art area and a bouncy house will be available for an additional cost.
TS Fork, Native Spirits, and King’s Kettle Corn are scheduled to serve both Saturday and Sunday, with Sodexho and Buzzy Bee Treats serving on Saturday only.
For more information about the Ponca City Arts Festival, contact Garrett at (580) 765-9746, email director@poncacityartcenter.org or visit www.PoncaCityArtCenter.org.
