by Ari Roth
The Manayunk Arts Festival is the centerpiece of this weekend’s events, a two day long, absolutely massive art festival featuring both young and established artists selling and exhibiting works in many different media. This year is also a landmark occasion in the event’s history; it has now been running once a year for a quarter of a century. For its 25th anniversary, the festival will be bigger and better than ever, featuring artworks in seven categories: photography, jewelry, wood & sculpture, fiber, mixed media, painting & drawing, and glass & ceramics. Highlights may include Neil Duman’s blown glass sculptures and Jen Born’s P.S. Enjoy Your Life painted boxes and collages, along with the ever-exciting Emerging Artists Tent, dedicated to showcasing rising stars in the Philadelphia art scene.
Not only will you be able peruse and maybe even purchase some incredible artwork, but every restaurant in what organizer Shannon Geddes calls “the largest al fresco dining scene in Philly” will be open for business, serving some of the city’s best food just for the festival’s attendees. These restaurants include Hikaru’s famous sushi – touted as the best in Philly, the New Orleans-inspired Bourbon Blue, and, of course, beer and ale from the Manayunk Brewing Company. No matter your tastes, you will find exactly the food you crave on Manayunk’s Main Street.
The 25th Annual Manayunk Arts Festival will occur on both Saturday and Sunday, June 21st and 22nd. Both days will start at 11 AM, with Saturday ending at 7 PM and Sunday ending at 6 PM. The festival promises close to 300 artists, along with the nearly endless selection of restaurants, so you will certainly need that full span of time to fully soak in everything that the Manayunk Arts Festival has to offer. For more information, visit the event page and check out the full list of vendors here. The event is free and open to the public, so come to Manayunk and immerse yourself in beautiful art for the weekend.
