MUSKEGON, Mich. - Art has been the driving force in downtown Muskegon for over a century.
In 1961 Hackley Park became the center for a large scale art and craft show known as Muskegon Art in the Park. In 2013, the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce took the local Art in the Park event to the next level with the creation of the Lakeshore Art Festival!
The Lakeshore Art Festival features over 350 juries fine art and specialty craft exhibitors, a Children’s Lane, artisan food market, street performers, multiple interactive art stations and so much more in beautiful Downtown Muskegon!
The Interactive and Community Art is a wonderful part of the Lakeshore Art Festival.
Festival goers can check out the Butterfly Mural created by globally recognized artist, Kelsey Montague, who made the one-of-a-kind mural in Downtown Muskegon!
The permanent piece is displayed on the east side of the Frauenthal building. Pose in front of the mural at any time during the festival and post your photos to social media with the hashtags #WhatLiftsYou, #ThisIsMuskegon, and #LAF2019
The event will also feature the Chalk The Walk. It's a free art adventure for all to enjoy! Guest can come out on Friday between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. with friends and family to chalk the streets of downtown.
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place! Chalk will be provided for free or bring your own if you’d like.
The festival also works with local schools for the Community Canvases and the Nuveen Art Center, students and guests can get creative with canvases! Classrooms will work on the project before the festival and their creations will be displayed on July 5 and July 6.
The Nuveen Art Center will host a painting celebration for guests to participate in during the festival. All canvases will be for sale, giving attendees the opportunity to own a piece of community made art!
In celebration of Muskegon being home to the world’s largest kayak manufacturer, two kayaks will be painted live during the festival. Visitors will be able to watch art in motion as the artists bring their designs to life in Hackley Park and in the Children’s Lane. The final works of art will be auctioned off, with portion of the proceeds going to Read Muskegon.
Book lovers can see if their favorite local artist will be in downtown Muskegon as well because there will be a emerging authors tent, welcoming 20 authors who will showcase their original books near Clay Ave. and 2nd St.
If you'd like to learn more about the events at the festival, you can check out their website at lakeshoreartfestival.org
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
If you would like more information about advertising with 13 ON YOUR SIDE, please contact Jeff Olsen at jolsen@wzzm13.com.