The 56th annual Artsfest is set to take place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from Saturday (May 25) through Memorial Day on Monday (May 27). The event, which marks the unofficial start of summer in the city, will be held at Riverfront Park and will feature over 150 artisans and craftsmen from across the country.
These artisans will be selling handcrafted works in a variety of categories, including ceramics, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and wood. In addition to the artisans, nearly 50 local vendors will be present at the event, offering a wide range of goods for sale.
The festival will also feature live entertainment, with over 35 acts performing throughout the weekend. This includes local bands, dance groups, and a concert series presented by The Wednesday Club at the Art Association of Harrisburg.
For families, the Renewal by Andersen Kidsfest area will offer a range of free, art-centric activities. These include face painting, balloon animals, DIY sidewalk chalk creations, and free kids canvas painting classes.
A new addition to this year's festival is a community art project that will bring a colorful school of 450 fish sculptures to City Island. Attendees aged 10 and older can paint their own fish sculpture with a colorful design. The sculptures will later be installed on City Island near the Harbortown Playground to create an eye-catching splash of color.
Food will be available from 25 food trucks, offering a variety of unique bites and festival favorites. A beer and wine garden will also be set up near the entertainment stage, featuring local breweries and vineyards.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Parking is available for $5 on City Island and $10 at the Market Square Garage.