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Date: 10/18/2023
ArtoberFest will return to the streets of downtown Westfield 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. The annual show organized by ArtWorks Westfield consists of an art walk on Elm and School streets, the latter of which will be turned into a pedestrian-only space for the day.
More than 80 artists and authors will participate. They include Richard Nowak and Donna Carmel of Westfield, Shawn Prairie of Holyoke, Whitney Weldon of East Longmeadow, Don Fisher of Chicopee, Laura Geryk of Ludlow, Laura Progulske of West Springfield and others, according to ArtWorks Westfield’s Facebook page.
There will also be activities for children, such as face painting. Children will also be able to paint rocks, CDs and miniature 4- by 4-inch canvases, as well as draw with chalk on the sidewalk.
Live music will be performed from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 53 Elm St., between Mina’s Wine and Spirits and the former George’s Jewelers building. The music festival will start with up-and-coming country singer Bekka Dowland at 10:30 a.m., followed by acoustic punk act Funzzle at 11:40 a.m., ska punk act The Agonizers at 12:25 p.m., post-punk act Sarah Soller-Mihlek at 1:35 p.m., rock band Always Manic at 2:10 p.m., folk-punk artist Matthew Spence at 3:15 p.m. and finishing off with psychobilly band Creepin’ Cadavers at 3:50 p.m.
Two other organizations downtown will offer complementary art experiences during ArtoberFest. Westfield on Weekends’ Creative Arts Center, at 105 Elm St., will open its gallery 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., showcasing works by Westfield artist James Johnson-Corwin.
The Westfield Athenaeum, at 6 Elm St., will host a talk with artist Felice Caivano, whose lace artwork is being featured this month in the Jasper Rand Gallery, at 11 a.m. Outside the Athenaeum, visitors can see the Traveling Climate Mural and hear the Climate Healing Chorus, noon to 2 p.m.
ArtoberFest is free to attend. Free parking is available nearby in municipal lots on Church and Thomas streets. ArtoberFest is partially funded by a grant by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, through the Westfield Cultural Council. More information is available at www.artworkswestfield.com.