MANAYUNK

Event recap by Manayunk Development Corporation Summer Intern, Katie Kavanaugh

Each year thousands of people flood Main Street in Manayunk for the Arts Festival in June, and this year was no exception. Saturday, June 21^st, 2014 marked the 25^th anniversary of the Manayunk Arts Festival. With over 300 artists and beautiful weather, it’s no wonder this year was another success.

While the event did not begin until 11am, artists began unloading their vans and setting up their booths as early as 5am Saturday morning. Staff and volunteers kept their fingers crossed for good weather and artists hoped for big crowds and big sales. As the day went on, Main Street became flooded with visitors to check out the talent of the artists who juried into the show.

The artwork varied and included: paint and drawings, fiber, photography, jewelry, wood & sculpture, and mixed media. Each artist had something different to offer, which made for an interesting array of color and style across booths. Not only did they bring their artwork, but they brought their stories and their inspirations. Some artists traveled from all over the country to sell their work while others are local and had a quick commute down to Main Street. There was plenty of art that represented the Philadelphia area through photographs and other media. There were even international images that made their way to Manayunk displaying breath-taking scenes from all over the world.

Main Street came alive during this Arts Festival as restaurants and stores were packed with guests and the street became home to the artists. There could not have been a better way to celebrate 25 years of the Manayunk Arts Festival than with this year’s large crowds and beautiful weather making it an incredible success!