Art-A-Licious, downtown Adrian’s annual fall festival of art, music and food, is returning for its fifth year.
The 2011 Art-A-Licious festival runs from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, along Main and Maumee Streets in Adrian. About 70 artists will sell their work at the festival, which also includes food, kids’ activities and two stages of entertainment.
“The festival has really grown in the past five years to become the signature event in downtown Adrian,” said festival chairman Don Taylor. “Our artists, entertainers and food venues are better than ever and will appeal to all ages.”
Friday night’s entertainment includes the Tejano sounds of Los Hermanos Villegas and Grupo Dezeo. Then on Saturday night, the focus shifts to rock ‘n roll, with local rock band Alias at 5 p.m., Toledo-based band On the Beach at 6 p.m., and local classic rock cover band Paragon at 8 p.m.
A variety of other local bands, as well as numerous student groups from Lenawee County schools, will perform throughout both days.
For those who want a hands-on art experience, the throwing tent offers a chance to experiment with pottery. In addition, eight demonstrating artists will be on hand to show the ins and outs of painting, ceramics and other media, and Art-A-Licious guests can enter to win a one-on-one session with the artist of their choice.
In addition to food vendors and a food-and-beer tent operated by the Adrian PM Rotary club, two special events will highlight local food. On Friday, the International Taste Fest will showcase the global diversity of Lenawee County’s restaurants. On Saturday, Chef Corbett Day’s culinary arts students from JCC@LISD TECH, the Lenawee County branch of Jackson Community College, will serve a Farm-to-Table gourmet meal with locally grown ingredients.
“The gourmet meal prepared by the award-winning culinary arts students will once again be the highlight on Saturday. They prepare an amazing meal,” Taylor said.
Kids interested in the arts will also find plenty of activities at Art-A-Licious, including a youth art tent, a musical instrument station sponsored by the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, family-friendly karaoke on Friday night, an interactive theater experience called My Adventure Theater throughout the day on Saturday, and a family movie, “Toy Story 3,” on an outdoor screen at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
“What a great opportunity for families to participate in arts activities,” said Julianne Dolan, fine arts director for Adrian Public Schools and a member of the Art-A-Licious planning committee. “The number of creative experiences available this weekend will astound you. Come down to the festival and take the time to engage with your children in some free, fun activities. Watch them as they try out an instrument or a character, play a drum or dance to the music, create a work of art or view a beautiful professional piece. We promise you the little ones will beg to stay all day.”
One of the two performance stages at Art-A-Licious is sponsored by the Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation, an organization dedicated to furthering arts education. The Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation Stage will host numerous youth performances throughout the festival.
Decorated chairs for the festival’s annual Chair-ity Auction will be on display both days and will be sold in a silent auction on Saturday.
For more information about Art-A-Licious, call 517-265-2265, visit artalicious.org, or go to the Art-A-Licious page on Facebook at facebook.com/artalicious.
(Note to members of the media: Photos of last year’s event can be downloaded from artalicious.org/media and may be used freely for any stories about the festival.)
