Going to OKC's Paseo Arts Festival? Here's what you need to know about parking, food, music
At only 26 years old, Oklahoma potter Sage Eden Smith is already on her way to becoming a fixture at the long-running Paseo Arts Festival.
"This is my third year ... and it's a different elevation. People view you differently automatically, especially being at the Paseo Arts Festival. When people walk up to your booth, they're like, 'Oh, this is somebody who knows what she's doing.' When you do a craft show, people are like, 'Oh, did you make this? ... OK, have a good day,'" she said with a wry smile.
Although the youngest artist on the event's roster is barely past the quarter-century mark, the Paseo Arts Festival is a long-running Memorial Day weekend tradition. The 46th Annual Paseo Arts Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 27-28, with live music until 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 29 in the historic Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey.
The free three-day event, which typically draws about 20,000 festivalgoers a day, will feature more than 90 juried artists, plus dozens of neighborhood artists, along with more than 50 Oklahoma entertainers, about 20 food and beverage vendors, two children's areas, free parking with shuttle service and more.
Here's what you need to know about the 2023 Paseo Arts Festival:
Admission is free, but the festival raises money for the Paseo Arts Association
Although admission is free, the Paseo Arts Festival is the largest annual fundraiser for the Paseo Arts Association, with beverage and merchandise sales supporting the nonprofit organization's year-round programming.
"Our Paseo Arts and Creativity Center has three art galleries, and those galleries are available for artists to share their work. As an artist, it's not that easy to just get your work in an art gallery, so we have ways for artists to become involved," said Amanda Bleakley, Paseo Arts Association executive director. "We support the annual Magic Lantern, we have a micro-grant program called FEAST ... so this event is really important to us."
Festivalgoers can support the Paseo Arts Association by wetting their whistle at the official Paseo drink tents and draw beer trailer and buying official T-shirts, posters and koozies. OKC painter and graphic designer Bryan Dahlvang, an Air Force veteran and Oklahoma City University graduate, created this year's official design for the festival merchandise.
More: Celebrate Memorial Day weekend in Oklahoma with festivals, military tributes and fun runs
What will be there to eat and drink at this year's Paseo Arts Festival?
The food court will be dishing up all sorts of festive fare, including corn dogs, funnel cakes, nachos, hot dogs, roasted nuts, kettle corn, ice cream and Dippin' Dots.
This year's food vendors include Tacos El Paso, Let’s Do Greek, Oh My Gogi, Wondervan Pops and festival newcomers Barbells & BBQ, which will be slinging Oklahoma barbecue and turkey legs, and Toast & Coffee, which will be serving baked goods and snacks.
Along with lemonade, root beer and wine, festivalgoers can quench their thirst with Stella Artois, Black Mesa Sellout and Golden Road Mango Cart at the craft beer trailer. Karbach Ranch Water and Cerveza and Budweiser products will be sold at all three beverage tents.
What Oklahoma entertainers will be performing at this year's festival?
This year's Paseo Arts Festival will feature an array of poetry readings, dance performances and live music on two stages. Returning favorites on the lineup include Jahruba & the Jahmystics, Aalim Dance Academy, Stephen Salewon Band, Poetic City and Dylan Stewart.
Popular local guitarist Edgar Cruz will close out the South Stage at 4 p.m. May 29 with his mates The Brave Amigos, but he's also performing with another of his projects, the Led Zeppelin tribute band Uncle Zep, at 7:45 p.m. May 27.
"We've got a couple of people that have played before that haven't played here in a few years: Original Flow & The Wavvez is back. ... Chelsea Days is an alternative rock band that's playing; that group is really high energy," said Theresa Hultberg, program manager for the Paseo Arts Association.
More: Updates are coming to Paseo. See the changes, and how they'll preserve the quirky vibe
"Then, there's a couple of favorites coming back like Buddy South, so we've got country. We've got Sam Kahre on the cello, so it's just a really good variety of music."
Performers making their Paseo Arts Fest debut this year include Madame Zeroni, a Tulsa R&B singer, and coldbrew, a rising Stillwater lofi act with 1.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
What children's activities will be offered at the Paseo Arts Festival?
Outside Contemporary Art Gallery, the Children's Art Area will offer free hands-on art activities like spin art, color sheets and CD suncatchers.
Plus, Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan, a nonprofit arts organization and dance company in the Paseo, is bringing back this year its popular Paper Play Theatre, where children and adults can craft paper puppets and stages and put on their own shows.
Where can people park at the Paseo Arts Festival?
Paseo Drive, the winding main street through the historic district, will be closed during the event since that's where visiting artists set up their booths. Free parking is offered at NW 36 and Walker, where the familiar domed First Christian Church building sat until it was razed last year.
From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 27-28 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 29, a free shuttle will run between the parking lot and the north end of the festival at NW 30 and Dewey.
What types of art can people find at the Paseo Arts Festival?
The historic Paseo Arts District is the year-round creative home of at least 70 local artists working in a wide range of styles, media and techniques.
During the festival, more than 90 nationally acclaimed visual artists from as far as California and Montana bring their original artwork to the tents that are set up on Paseo Drive. Their wares include paintings, ceramics, photography, glass art, woodwork, sculptures and jewelry.
To earn a spot in the festival, visiting artists go through a specialized jury process.
"With that expertise in the field, we get high-quality work. I think that makes a big difference, and I think it shows that it's a sought-after show to be in for artists," said longtime Festival Chairman Collin Rosebrook.
Also the owner of longtime district cornerstone Paseo Pottery, Rosebrook has been a mentor to Smith, the festival's youngest artist.
"My mom took a class when I was a toddler to get away from me at Paseo Pottery," Smith said with a grin. "Then, she put me in homeschool when I was 14 and I started high school. I've always been really artistic ... so she was like, 'We're gonna put you in an art class.' And she chose Paseo Pottery again."
A full-time artist, Smith specializes in creating functional pottery and made all the dishes for the esteemed OKC restaurant Nonesuch in 2018. She sells her pottery year round through her Etsy store and at Paseo Pottery, where she also helps with classes, and at Rosebrook's suggestion, she applied for the Paseo Arts Festival for the first time three years ago.
"I didn't really know that I was good enough to be in a festival like this until it was brought up and then I applied. The Paseo Arts Festival is the festival that my mom ... has taken me to since I was little," Smith said.
"I'm an only child, so it was something that we would do to bond, my mom and I. So, now, I'm like, 'Wow, I get to be a part of the festival ... that's always been my favorite.'"
46th PASEO ARTS FESTIVAL
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 27-28, with live music until 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 29 .
Where: Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey.
Admission: Free.
To volunteer: https://www.thepaseo.org/festival-volunteers.
Information: https://www.thepaseo.org/festival.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: All you need on Paseo Arts Festival 2023 music, parking, more
