Octagon Art Festival – Octagon Center for the Arts

The Octagon Center for the Arts is proud to present the 54th Annual Octagon Art Festival. There will be plenty for art enthusiasts of all ages to experience in downtown Ames on Sun,, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 92 artists from all over the Midwest will fill Main Street in downtown Ames with artistic creations.

The Octagon Center for the Arts is passionate about supporting artists. One of our goals is to provide space and opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers, including a focus on emerging artists. Four of the participants are Emerging Artists who are up and coming local creatives.

A wide variety of functional, wearable and decorative artwork will be available within any budget. Come experience the many wonders of art at the Octagon Art Festival and support artisans with your purchase of functional and beautiful art. The festival is the perfect place to get an early start on shopping for holiday gifts. For more information regarding the Octagon Art Festival including a festival map, live entertainment acts and list of participating artists, visit www.octagonarts.org.

This is a free event for families to enjoy together. Kid friendly activities will include face painting, Becca the Balloon Lady, chalk art area, and a kids craft area located in front of the Octagon Center for the Arts with about 10 art projects for children to create and take home. Twelve food trucks will be offering a great selection of cuisine at the festival, so bring your appetite!

Live entertainment including bands and solo musicians will be presented throughout the day, including local favorite, Burnin’ Sensations from 2 – 4 pm at the Tom Evans Performance Area.

Tom Evans Performance Area

10 – 11:30 a.m., Day’s Live Music

noon – 1:30 p.m., Bone People

2 – 4 p.m., Burnin’ Sensations

Main Street & Douglas Performance Area

10 a.m. – noon, Reggie Greenlaw

noon – 2 p.m., Miles Morgan

2 – 3 p.m., Patricia Holly

Special thanks to the festival sponsors and community supporters who make this event possible: Ames Commission on the Arts; Ames Main Street; Ames Regional Economic Alliance, Discover Ames Community Grant Program; Cross Wealth Management; Duck Worth Wearing; First National Bank; Iowa Home Crafters; Iowa Public Radio; Mediacom; Smith Law Firm, 10Fold Architecture + Engineering; Stoltze & Stoltze Family Dentistry; and Wilson Toyota.

The Octagon Art Festival is organized by the Octagon Center the Arts, a non-profit community art organization located in downtown Ames. The Octagon encourages interaction and creative self-expression by providing inclusive opportunities and spaces that bring people together through art. The Octagon has been a cornerstone of the cultural scene in Ames since 1966, and serves more than 30,000 people annually through education classes and outreach programs, rotating exhibits, retail gallery shop, and special events such as the annual Octagon Art Festival. Come experience the arts at the Octagon located at 427 Douglas Avenue in downtown Ames. For info on art classes and exhibits visit the website at www.octagonarts.org