Don't Miss The Lakewood Arts Festival

“You’re probably from Lakewood if…”

…You know that arts rule the street on the first Saturday in August.

And this year is no different. Like artistic clockwork, the 34th annual Lakewood Arts Festival will take over Detroit Avenue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. bringing 164 artists to town and a lineup of entertainment that is sure to pack downtown with thousands of browsers, buyers and admirers.

Expect a dazzling array of human creativity from innovative local and national artists – 30 of whom are new to the festival this year, said Vicky Warden, chairperson of the volunteer board of directors for the Lakewood Arts Festival.

Think ceramics, jewelry, painting, fiber, mixed media, sculpture/metal work, photography, glass, and etching/printmaking. This competitive art show generated more than 300 applications this year and the pool of applicants was cut in half by a panel of artists and board members who reviewed CDs and digital portfolios.

“We always want to have fresh talent each year,” Warden said. Event day judges will peruse the white tents to present awards to artists in categories of Best of Show, First, Second, Third and Fourth Place, Best Creative Presentation and Best New Artist.

Also new to the festival this year, the Beck Center for the Arts will host its own stage on the corner of Belle and Detroit avenues where they will be featuring art demonstrations such as wheel-thrown pottery, improvisational theater, and a drum circle.

“We are really excited about this,” Warden said. “Because we have done the festival for so many years, we do not want to get stale. If you’ve ever gotten to watch a potter use a wheel, it’s fascinating. The idea is to say ‘See all this art on the street, this is how it starts’.”

The festival will also have tall puppets, jugglers, a mime and even an 11-year-old stilt walker performing throughout the day, she said.

The event is rain or shine. And remember no dogs allowed per the Lakewood Police Department.