Fall is here. That means it’s time for Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s annual Festival of the Arts. This year’s celebration of art, music, food and family fun is set for the weekend of October 29-30 at the scenic MKAF Cultural Arts Village in Destin.
The Festival is free and open to the public and runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations are welcome. Proceeds benefit ArtsReach, MKAF’s arts education community outreach program serving K-12 students, adults, and children with special needs and military and veteran populations.
One of the Southeast’s premier art festivals, the two-day signature event features art exhibits of more than 100 artists (including 37 new artists!) from 17 states showcasing a diverse palette of artistic styles in a range of different art mediums.
–A complimentary four-color Festival Guide containing a roster of all artists, a map of the Festival site, the entertainment lineup, a list of food & beverage vendors, and other helpful hints on how to navigate through the Festival is available at the entrance.
–Did you know Festival of the Arts artists compete in a juried competition for $10,000 in cash prizes? The judging panel includes Anna Killian Cavnar an artist/adjunct faculty member at Pensacola State College and Dan Taylor, a Tallahassee-based artist known for his bold abstract paintings, jewelry, and large-scale garden sculptures. On Saturday, Festivalgoers are invited to vote for the “People’s Choice” Artist Award by casting a ballot located at the Main Festival Entrance.
-Oneof the unique features of the Festival is the Collaborative Art Exhibit, which showcases the work of seasoned and emerging adult artists and local student artists competing for the $850 McIlroy Awards given in honor of the late Patricia McIlroy, Destin’s first First Lady and an MKAF advocate and patron.
-Young artists are welcome to climb aboard Uniquely Clever’s Creative Cruiser to enjoy hands-on interactive art creation of seasonal crafts. Be sure to keep an eye out for Betty Longlegs who will be happy to make your tot a free balloon sculpture.
-Frame up the fun in the moment at the Picture Yourself photo stations and grab a Gif at the Epic Photo Booth and be sure to keep the conversation going with #MKAF.
–Six musicians/bands will perform live throughout the weekend on stage at The Dugas Pavilion. Saturday singer/songwriter The Wavy Winstons (10-11:30 a.m.) serves up folk, pop, jazz, and island music. Jones & Company (noon-2 p.m.) deliver jazz, soul, and world music, then rock, blues, dance, and original music by Tillman & Taff (2:30-4:30 p.m.). On Sunday, Now & Then (10-11 a.m.) will open the Festival with folk tunes that allow them to showcase their acoustic fiddle and guitar, followed by Roman Street Trio (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) — an instrumental band specializing in improvisational fusion of Classical, Gypsy and Contemporary Jazz, Latin and Nuevo Flamenco. Singer/songwriter Casey Kearney (2-3:30 p.m.) closes out the Festival by treating Festivalgoers to a performance infused with heartfelt ballads and upbeat crowd-pleasing favorites.
– Cuisine on the Green will serve up samplings of fish & chips from Spork (Saturday), gourmet burgers from Fuel (Sunday), Pan-Asian-style cuisine by My Ohana, Texas smoked BBQ from Red Neck Riviera Smokers, Hawaiian poke bowls from Priddy Mayjah, plus Italian ice and gelato from Repicci’s of the Panhandle and hand-dipped ice cream and fresh-squeezed lemonade from Dan’s Old-Fashioned Concessions. Foodies can toast the arts with select wine, beer, and fresh-crafted Bloody Mary cocktails in the Beer & Wine Garden.
–This year’s official Festival guide, poster, and t-shirt feature the coastal-inspired artwork of Santa Rosa Beach-based impasto acrylic painter Justin Gaffrey. Signed and numbered poster prints and souvenir t-shirts featuring Gaffrey’s lush acrylic artwork entitled “Original Seascape” will be available for sale in the Souvenir Tent.
–Be sure to also visit the Art Drawing Tent and enter the charity benefit drawing for chances to win a range of original artwork generously donated by the 2017 Festival artists. The drawing will take place on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m., but you do not need to be present to win. Good luck!
– Park for free at Destin High School located adjacent to the Cultural Arts Village or at Emerald Coast Centre, located on Highway 98 near Beall’s Department Store, and ride the free continuous shuttle service right to the main entrance. The Cultural Arts Village is designed as an ADA-compliant venue with available handicap parking.
– You purchased a large masterpiece, great! Obtain a convenient “art pickup” pass from the Festival Main Entry Tent For Festival fans using the art shuttle, simply return to the satellite parking at Emerald Coast Shopping Centre to retrieve your vehicle and display your pass on your dashboard to gain access to the Festival entrance.
–Lend a hand. Volunteer shifts are available by contacting Patricia Parker at (850) 368-0988 and patricia.parker@bxs.com.
For more information about the Festival of the Arts, visit www.MKAF.org or call (850) 650-2226 and follow MKAF on social channels.
