Art, music and entertainment will take center stage this weekend at Durham Arts Council’s 41st annual CenterFest. More than 140 fine and visual artists, 70 performance acts, more than 40 nonprofit, government and community organizations and a myriad of local and international food vendors – the largest numbers in the festival’s history – descend upon Main and Chapel Hill streets on Saturday, 10am-6pm, and Sunday, 11am-5pm, to celebrate North Carolina’s longest-running juried outdoor arts festival.
Recently named one of Sunshine Artist Magazine’s Top 100 Fine Arts Festivals in the U.S., CenterFest allows festivalgoers of all ages to explore, enjoy and purchase unique artwork from national artists who represent 17 states. Visitors are encouraged to create a few pieces of their own at make-and-take art stations and pottery lessons.
Attendees will also become art critics – they’ll vote on which visual artist will take home the Citizens Choice award, to be presented on Sunday at 4pm. A three-person team of judges – 21c Museum Hotel Durham Collection Manager Jeff Bell, North Carolina Crafts Gallery owner Sara Gress and Alizarin Gallery owner Cathy Crumpton – will view artists’ work in painting, photography, basket-waving, clay, drawing, fiber, glass, leather working, printmaking, wood, jewelry, mixed media and sculpture before determining CenterFest’s top prizes – the “Best in Show” first, second and third place Merit Awards, also presented on Sunday.
CenterFest’s beer garden – filled to the brim with selections from Bull McCabes Irish Pub – and food trucks, providing everything from burgers to bratwurst, will be on hand for visitors to grab something to sip and snack on while watching the acts of more than 600 musical, magical and dance performers on CenterFest’s six stages. For the little ones, the Creative Kids Zone will provide festival favorites like face painting, caricatures and a bounce house, and the Kids Zone Stage will feature acts fun for the whole family. CenterFest is also featuring the return of the bike valet parking system, courtesy of the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission and Bike Durham.
Admission is free, with a suggested $5 donation. For more information and directions, click here or call 919-560-2722.
