Festival of the Arts 2017 returns to Bicentennial Park

The annual Festival of the Arts returns to Oklahoma City April 25 to 30 with more than 140 of the nation's finest artists and an expanded children's art field. The festival also includes returning food favorites, culinary demonstrations and three performing arts stages featuring over 250 performances.

More than 500 artists submitted visual art for the Festival jury process and 144 were selected with media including oils, water, drawing and printmaking, photography, ceramics, glass, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, wood and two and three-dimensional works.

Continuing its celebration of the culinary arts, the Festival will feature 31 vendors in International Food Row with proceeds benefitting local nonprofit organizations.

This year's event features an expanded children's art field where participants can complete three art projects - handprint butterflies, Oklahoma sky pomp and a sun catcher for $3. The face painting area also will include more extensive options in addition to the traditional $1 designs.

The 2017 festival in Bicentennial Park marks the 51st annual event for the Oklahoma City Arts Council. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. The festival is expected to attract more than 700,000 visitors.

All proceeds from Festival of the Arts support Arts Council Oklahoma City's year-round, free and low-cost programming. Festival of the Arts 2017 is produced by Arts Council Oklahoma City. Co-chairs are Debbie Forshee and Steve Bolton.

The Gayly - April 10, 2017 @ 10:45 a.m.