Laumeier Sculpture Park Art Fair Readies for 25th Anniversary

The three-day begins Friday, marking its 25th anniversary. The event features 150 artists, music, entertainment, art activities for children and an array of tasty offerings. The artists, who come from 33 different states, will exhibit work for sale in 11 categories: ceramics, fiber / textiles, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography / digital, printmaking / drawing, sculpture and wood. A total of $11,000 in prizes will be awarded to artists achieving excellence. Thirteen award winners from last year are returning.

“I’m always really excited about the jewelry; the glass is really beautiful too,” Marilu Knode, Laumeier Sculpture Park director said. “We have a high quality of artists coming in. Some are very affordable and that’s a great area where people can really enjoy collecting something.”

The Art Fair begins at 6 p.m. Friday, and kicks off with Art of the Vine, a wine-tasting event. There is an additional admission charge to Art of the Vine of $12 ($10 for members). The charge includes unlimited tastes from Blumenhof Winery, Bommarito Estate Almond Tree Winery, Garland Wines, Peaceful Bend Winery, Stone Hill Winery and the Wine Guy. 

The band lineup is new every year, and Friday night’s entertainment starts off with Pennsylvania Slim and Dawn Weber & Electro Funk Assembly. Free performances by Bedlam Brothers, Autumn’s Child, Melissa Neels and Joe the Juggler continue into Saturday. That evening’s City of Sunset Hills Music Festival will feature Last to Show First to Go; Bottoms Up Blues Gang and Farshid Etnik. Knode said that for people who want to avoid a big crowd (last year’s fair saw 15,000 attendees) Saturday is a slightly less attended day. Saturday fair hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

“It’s a great day to come when the Sunset Hills Music Festival happens,” she said. 

On Sunday, the fair will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday’s guests will be entertained by Erin Bode, Elemental Shakedown, Lucky Old Sons, Leland’s Road and Joia. A new event this year is the Mother’s Day Brunch.

“People go out for Mother’s Day, and why not come out to the park and shop a little early?” Knode said. 

Creation Location, which Knode said is a good place for kids to play and express themselves the way a kid does, is a free hands-on art activity area for children. It will be open during fair hours on Saturday and Sunday.

The Laumeier Art Fair is a rain or shine event. Pets and outside food or drink are not permitted in the Park during the fair; free parking is available in adjacent parking lots. Admission: $8 (age 12+), $5 (age 6-11), FREE (under 6 and members).