This Weekend Around Columbus Circle & Surrounding Streets Friday, July 29: 10 am – 6 pm; Saturday, July 30 & Sunday, July 31: 10 am – 5 pm
Syracuse, NY – This weekend, nearly 40,000 visitors are expected to visit Columbus Circle and surrounding streets for the 51st annual AmeriCU Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival, presented by the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. The three-day festival features more than 130 of the nation’s most talented artists and craftspeople – some coming from as far away as California, Missouri and Florida, with New York artisans making up more than half of the roster. Visitors will be able to shop for fine art as well as contemporary crafts. A preview selection of artwork represented can be found at www.SyracuseArtsandCraftsFestival.com, where there is a list of all the artists and links to their websites.
The free, family-friendly festival also features a variety of street performances, summer refreshments – including Mediterranean specialties, wraps, crab cakes and traditional festival food – as well as sweet treats like ice cream, Italian Ice and wine slushies. Sunshine or rain, the festival kicks off this Friday morning (July 29) at 10:00 am and continues until 6:00 pm. On Saturday and Sunday (July 30 and 31), the event runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is the longest-running festival in Downtown Syracuse and is recognized as the most prestigious show of its kind in Central New York. Hailed as one of the premier festivals in the northeast, it has won national accolades several times in its 50+ year history. Artists and crafters have recognized the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival as one of the top 100 shows in the country in polls by trade publications. For links to the list of Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival Artists “Click”.
Exhibiting artists and crafters have an opportunity to win additional accolades for their work this weekend. Serving as judges in the artists’ competition are Adam Carlin, director of learning and engagement at the Everson Museum, Tommy Lincoln, artist/designer and founder of Stay Fresh Design Studio, and Sayward Schoonmaker, artistic director at Sone Quarry Hill Art Park. Friday afternoon, the trio will select winners of awards of distinction by category and those worthy of honorable mentions.
The AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is one of the anchor events of ArtsWeek, week-long celebration of the arts in our community. Now in its 15th year, ArtsWeek is a multi-faceted partnership featuring a dozen organizations committed to programming the arts in Downtown Syracuse, including the Downtown Committee, the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation, the Everson Museum, the YMCA’s Writers Center, Stay Fresh, Montgomery Street Collective, the Onondaga Historical Association, the Erie Canal Museum, the Syracuse City Ballet, Onondaga County, the Central Library and the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
The ArtsWeek celebration begins tomorrow, Tuesday, July 26th and continues through Sunday, culminating with Downtown’s busiest festival weekend of the year. The AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival (around Columbus Circle), the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival (in Clinton Square, and the Stay Fresh Chalk Jam (along the 200 block of Montgomery Street) are three anchor activities, connecting Cathedral Square to Clinton and Hanover Squares.
“Downtown’s art and cultural scene attracts millions of visitors every year. We always look forward to opportunities to shine a spotlight on the arts and celebrate the way it influences our community,” said Merike Treier, Executive Director of the Downtown Committee. “We encourage families to check out the exciting line-up of ArtsWeek events such as the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts& Crafts Festival, which offers a diverse range of high-quality art from the nation’s best artists. With delicious food and free entertainment, there is something for everyone.”
“The annual AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate over 50 years of the finest arts and crafts and some of the most talented artists in the country, right here in our own community,” said Ronald Belle, AmeriCU President & CEO. “At AmeriCU, we are thrilled to present this popular event, and be a part of so much excitement for Downtown Syracuse and all that the city has to offer. Events like this demonstrate the vibrancy of our community, and we can’t wait for so many people to come together for it.”
For additional information about the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, including a list of participating artists, a live entertainment schedule, a list of food vendors, a festival map, and a full schedule of the programs and events comprising ArtsWeek, please visit http://www.SyracuseArtsandCraftsFestival.com.
