Fountain Square Artisan Fest

Dates: Cancelled due to Covid 19
Location: Downtown Evanston, Illinois
Hours: 11AM-6PM
Attendance: 30,000
Demographics: Upscale, educated adults, 25-54

Components:
• More than 100 juried artists offering original art work for sale
• Continuous live music throughout the day
• Wine tasting sessions (ticketed).
• Wide variety food and drink
• Street performers and musicians.

Overview:

The North Shore’s oldest and most prestigious juried fine arts festival takes place in downtown Evanston on the last weekend of June.

One of the event’s hallmarks is its roster of dozens of artists who create eco-friendly art from re-cycled and found materials. These re-cycle artisans add an exciting dimension to the existing seventy-five juried fine artists including local Evanston artists.  This addition not only greatly increases the selection of art- but it also introduces the concepts of ‘green’ and ‘eclectic’. The recycled portion of the event includes interactive sessions with event participants to gain hands-on knowledge of creating art from recycled materials.

A big tent houses an activity area with several unique interactive projects overseen by the Evanston Art Center. There’s a music stage, food and beer/wine vendors and entertainment provded by strolling street musicians and performers.

Another big, important element is the unusual site plan. It has been deliberately designed to give the visitor a continuous experience of ‘surprise & delight’.  Fine and recycled art booths are mixed with music and street performers, sponsors, merchandise vendors, food, wine and beer.  As visitors stroll through the event site, the elements of surprise and delight are continuous- and the ‘unexpected’ dominates the overall experience.