Paseo gears up for arts festival

Local artists are taking to the streets Saturday through Monday for the 31st Annual Paseo Arts Festival. Held by the Paseo Artists Association, the festival will feature 75 artists from Oklahoma. The festival allows artists to sell their artwork, as well as allows the association to raise money for area events.

"When you have an event this large, it creates an opportunity for you to generate your seed money for the projects the rest of the year," said Diane Coady, a festival committee member.

ACTIVITIES
On top of the featured artists, shops and restaurants in the district will be open for people to browse. Bands like Pinky and the SnakeShakers, The Lonzo Dog Band and Mountain Smoke will be showcasing their talents on two different stages, offering a variety of musical genres.

"It's really a community feel around here," Coady said. "There's a great deep love for Paseo for being an artsy bohemian spot." A food court will be set up in a separate area, and a children's area will allow kids to create their own art.

HISTORY
The festival began when a group of artists living in Paseo wanted to show off their creations, but didn't have a real place in Oklahoma to do so. Coady said it's part of the association's mission to provide this venue.

For artist Ty Kelly, the festival has a laid-back feel and an eclectic environment. All media, from paintings to glass to wearable art, are represented at the festival.

"This one just hits all the bases," he said. "?CJ Macklin

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