It’s all about the art on East Second Avenue this weekend.
Heading into its 23rd year, Durango Autumn Arts Festival will fill the street with both local and not-so-local artists on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s Durango Arts Center’s biggest fundraising event of the year, and this year, about 97 artists will be featured, said Peter Hay, exhibits director at DAC and artist coordinator for the festival.
As in years past, you can stroll down East Second Avenue and check out artists’ booths, catch live music – which will be playing all day both days – hit the beer garden and bring the kiddos to the Creation Station.
Hay said the juried event will be bringing in artists from right here in Durango to points all across the country, a mix that adds to the arts community.
“For us, it’s a really great way to bring people together here around the arts. To give these artists a market is important,” Hay said. “I think for the community, it’s a really great way not only to have some local folks showing their work, but also to bring in some folks from out of the area to be inspiring, sell their work here, to see Durango. I think it really adds to the cultural footprint of Durango.”
While the festival is a great way to support artists, the town benefits as well, Hay said. “I think it’s a good economic driver for the weekend; all these artists are coming in, they’re eating at restaurants, they’re staying at campsites and hotels – and all those visitors as well are doing the same.”
And with the changing of the seasons looming, any chance to enjoy good weather should be taken advantage of.
“It’s a great way, too, to get out and enjoy the fall colors a little and have maybe one of the last real outdoor kind of summer hurrahs before the weather starts to really turn.”
katie@durangoherald.com
If you go
What: 23rd annual Durango Autumn Arts Festival
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Outside on East Second Ave
More information: Visit http://durangoarts.org/daaf/
Entertainment schedule
Saturday
10-10:20 a.m.: DAC Applause
10:2510:45 a.m.: Durango’s Ka Pa Hula I Na Mauna
11-11:50 a.m.: iAm Music
12:15-1:30 p.m.: Hello, Dollface
2-3:15p.m.: Six Dollar String Band
3:30-5 p.m.: Sweetwater Station
Sunday
10-11:15 a.m.: The Lost Souls
11:15-11:45 a.m.: (TBD)
12:15-1 p.m.: Wasibi Wabi
1:15-2 p.m.: Soul What (soul/Motown)
2:15-2:45p.m.: Durangatones (a capella group)
3-3:45 p.m.: Groove Casters (pop/rock)
4-5p.m.: Stillwater Music faculty
