There aren’t many people who can bring together the Rolling Stones, Captain America, and a giraffe. The 42nd annual Lubeznik Art Festival gave the Michigan City community all of that on Saturday, August 17.
Jessie Sexton, marketing manager at the Lubeznik Center For The Arts, described what makes this annual tradition a special day for the staff and everyone in attendance.
“It’s exciting to have this festival on our property to give people a chance to experience these artists and what we have to offer,” Sexton said. “Adults are only $5 and children under 16 are free on the first day. Thanks to McDonald’s of La Porte County, admission is free to the public on Sunday. It’s a pretty fun festival that’s affordable and features a strong group of artists.”
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Sexton said this year’s festival featured more than 75 artists. While there were many familiar faces, she is excited about the number of newcomers participating this year. As this is the 42nd annual festival, she believes the community has always responded well to this Michigan City tradition.
“This is always one of our most fun events because it’s for the whole community,” Sexton said. “We have live murals that everyone can work on together. The kids love the face painting we have here. We always try to make it as dynamic as possible with a lot of different artists. This event is for everyone and we try to do that every year.”
The Lubeznik Art Center always puts months of preparation into making this festival a success. Sexton says his team started putting everything together in early January.
In addition to artists showcasing their work and additional outdoor activities, visitors were also able to view their work indoors. Many visitors toured the entire exhibit, which included a section on Marvel superheroes.
The event also included a performance by the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival, known as the family concert “From Hildegard to the Avant-Garde.”
Gigi McCabe-Miele, a board member of the Lubeznik Center For The Arts, has been a long-time fan of the event and appreciates the opportunity to connect with artists.
“I try to get here early to check everything out and see what everyone has to offer,” McCabe-Miele said. “I always enjoy seeing artists who come back every year. Between the woven baskets, unusual socks and all the jewelry, these artists have put together some incredible things.”
Another element of the festival that McCabe-Miele appreciates is the variety of options visitors can find at each booth.
“There are a number of people who have large works of art that are just beautiful,” McCabe-Miele said. “It’s also nice that there are a lot of miniature versions of their work. I’ve gotten a lot of greeting cards here. It’s just nice that there’s always something that people can afford.”
If you were unable to attend on Saturday, the festival will be open again on Sunday, August 18. Entry is free and the event runs from 10am to 5pm.
For more information about the Lubeznik Center For The Arts, please visit visit their website.
