Paint Creek Center for the Arts will once again host its annual Art & Apples Festival Sept. 9-11.
After canceling in 2020 due to COVID and holding a modified version last year, this 56th festival returns at full strength.
“COVID was a struggle for all public festivals and Art & Apples was no exception,” says Shaun Hayes, Paint Creek Center for the Arts executive director. “After being unable to host the event in 2020, the event returned in 2021 with a limited number of artists, sponsors, and food vendors compared to what had been allowed in the past.
“This allowed for extra spacing to make our artists feel more at ease … This year we’ve made the decision to open our event back up to full capacity.”
That means attendees can expect to see more than 220 artists from 23 states featuring their works this year.
“Art & Apples has endured because of the continued engagement between the artists and the visitors,” Hayes says. “Rochester and the surrounding communities have a true appreciation for art.
“This continued interest allows us to keep attracting the highest-quality of artists to our event and has led us to become nationally recognized among fine art festivals.”
Art & Apples is ranked ninth on the list of 200 Best Fine Art and Design Shows for the decade (2010 to 2020) by Sunshine Artist magazine. The event serves as the nonprofit organization’s signature fundraiser to support art classes for children and adults, free art exhibitions, the Art Market featuring local Michigan artists’ work, summer camps, and community outreach through its Art Anywhere program. A donation of $5 per person is suggested for entry to the festival; a portion of proceeds is shared with other area nonprofits and local groups who serve as festival greeters.
Art & Apples opens Friday, Sept. 9, running from 2-7:30 p.m. in Rochester Municipal Park. It continues Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Live performances from community music and dance groups will be presented on the mainstage, food vendors will offer a wide array of options, the Meijer Kids Art Zone will provide children’s art activities, and the Creation Station feature live art-making demonstrations.
“As an arts center, we aim to keep that as the primary focus in all that we do and I think that really shines through in the festival,” Hayes says. “There will be 18 different mediums on display, so whether you’re looking for wearables, functional pieces, or something to display to brighten up the appearance of your home, there’s a different piece of art for everyone to appreciate.”
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