Lakeshore Art Festival returning to Muskegon with over 280 exhibitors

MUSKEGON, MI – A festival described as a unique blend of fine art, specialty crafts, artisan food, street performers, and handcrafted goods is returning to the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The Lakeshore Art Festival returns this month, featuring over 280 exhibitors throughout the streets and parks of downtown Muskegon. The event is June 29-30 and scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Since its inception in 1961, the destination event has been a community favorite and continues to have a strong history of supporting the arts around Muskegon by spreading joy and creating each year.

Paula Ray, Lakeshore Art Festival fine art/fine craft coordinator, said this year’s event theme is Flower Power.

“We like to play up features of Michigan, so we chose Flower Power because in downtown Muskegon, flowers are blooming all over during the summer and it’s beautiful,” Ray said.

A local artist will create the Flower Power Public Art Project in the Western Avenue roundabout, where it will be temporarily installed for attendees to view.

During the two-day event, over 100 exhibitors will be juried Saturday in Hackley Park by international educator and artist Mark Ramsey. $3,000 in cash rewards will be presented for first place, second, third, honorable mention, and committee’s choice.

Attendees will also get the chance to vote for their favorite themselves with the People’s Choice Award, with winners being announced on Sunday.

Other event highlights include:

• Over 180 craft and artisan food exhibitors on 4th Street and Western Avenue
• Create-your-own chalk art along Muskegon streets
• Authors Alley featuring Michigan authors on 4th Street and Clay Avenue
• Food vendors with a variety of delicious eats on 3rd Street.
• Interactive art and education stations with free or low-cost active ties at Children’s Lane
• Street performers located throughout the festival and Olthoff Stage

Ray said that the Lakeshore Art Festival just keeps growing and adding different elements each year.

She said it wouldn’t have been possible without the benefactor sponsors: The DTE Energy Foundation, Watch Muskegon, Muskegon DDA, and the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

“It’s grown not only in numbers but in quality,” Ray said. “Come on down and see what we’ve got — I’m sure you’ll have fun.”

For more information, visit lakeshoreartfestival.org/attend.

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