Annual Arts Festival Returns August 12
The annual Port Hope Arts Festival returns with an impressive lineup of 10-minute plays, live music, an outdoor vendor market, song writers circle, hands-on activities and community gathering in Memorial Park on Saturday, August 12.
“The Port Hope Arts Festival is truly a celebration of the incredible culture we have here in Port Hope and Northumberland County” notes Mayor Olena Hankivsky. “This annual celebration has many colourful interactive activities, displays, and performances for the whole family. It demonstrates the talents and creativity of the people in our community and allows the Port Hope Arts Scene to shine.”
Event participants can experience activities for the kids, art on display, wagon rides and other fun surprises from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
For the third year, the Festival program includes a 10-Minute Play series. Back by popular demand, this experience has been expanded to include ten plays at five different outdoor venues. The plays range from comedies to touching dramas.
An assortment of community groups will be set up in Memorial Park offering many colourful, interactive activities for the whole family. Check out Critical Mass Art’s Thinking Beyond the Blue Box, an art show & sale in partnership with Beyond the Blue Box. Artists of all ages, abilities and skill levels are participating. This show challenges artists in new ways of thinking about sustainability and repurposing thrift store finds into new and contemporary works of art. The exhibition opens at the Capitol Theatre on August 12 between 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Capitol Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors also premieres at 8:00 p.m.
Art Around Town is back for another year, featuring the work of 18 local artists displayed in various shop windows, including a collection at Ganaraska Art and Framing. This initiative is led by Herb Jung, who recruits artists, stores and display materials to transform downtown Port Hope into one giant outdoor gallery. Art Around Town is displayed from August 1 until August 14.
All details, including a digital festival map are posted online at porthope.ca/arts-festival
Background
Arts Month is an organic celebration of the arts, and Port Hope’s creative community. It’s an open invitation to get creative, curious and to celebrate. Residents, organizations, and businesses are empowered to help educate, inspire, and connect to a variety of artistic mediums. Participation could be private or more public, and could look like attending a workshop, promoting artfully made merchandise, or sharing your own masterpiece. Visit our Event Calendar for more Arts Month activities at porthope.ca/calendar.