Iowa Arts Festival 2013 Schedule: Celebrating 30th Year in Iowa City this Weekend

Do you like art and music? How about food? How about all three of those together?

Since you're living in Iowa City, I'm going to assume that those were all stupid questions, the resounding answer to all of them clearly being yes.

It's Iowa City Summer of the Arts season again, and that means it will be kicked off as it traditionally has been with Friday Night Concert Series and the upcoming Iowa Art Festival. Below is more information from Summer of the Arts on this year's edition of the Iowa Art Festival being held two weeks from now on June 7-9. For more information on each of the Summer of the Arts events you can visit here.

Here's our coverage from last year's festival: 

2013 Iowa Arts Festival Schedule

Friday, June 7

4:00 PM - 11:00 PM Culinary Row, sponsored by Johnsonville Sausages
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM  Art Fair & Downtown Gallery Walk
5:00 PM - 11:30 PM Beverage Garden 

Main Stage, sponsored by Toyota-Scion of Iowa City

7:00 PM Redbird
9:00 PM Richard Thompson Electric Trio

Saturday, June 8

10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Art Fair & FUN Stops
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Children’s Day, sponsored by MidWestOne Bank
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Family Stage Entertainment
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM Culinary Row, sponsored by Johnsonville Sausages
12:00 PM - 11:30 PM Beverage Garden 

Main Stage, sponsored by Toyota-Scion of Iowa City:

12:00 PM Mutiny in the Parlor
1:30 PM Slewgrass
3:00 PM The Beggarmen
5:00 PM Kelly Pardekooper
7:00 PM TBA
9:00 PM Old 97’s 

Sunday, June 9

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Art Fair & FUN Stops
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Family Stage Entertainment
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Global Village, sponsored by West Bank
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Culinary Row, sponsored by Johnsonville Sausages
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Beverage Garden

Main Stage, sponsored by Toyota-Scion of Iowa City:

9:45 AM UI Steel Drum Band
11:00 AM Rachael Marie
11:45 AM MovMnt Dance Group
12:45 PM Iowa City Community Band
2:00 PM Christy Brown-Kwaiser
2:40 PM William Danger Ford
3:20 PM Milk & Eggs
4 PM Sam Knutson

Here's a recent blog post from the Arts Festival with more information on what you'll be able to enjoy this weekend.

Iowa Arts Festival Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Iowa Arts Festival, presented by Veridian Credit Union, is celebrating its 30th anniversary June 7 through the 9th. The free weekend long event is winner of Iowa City Press-Citizen's "2012 Best Festival", 2005-2008 "Favorite Festival", and three years running "Best of the Area."

"The Iowa Arts Festival is one of the longest running festivals in the area and its success is due to the vision and dedication of the handful of individuals who decided, in 1983, to formally celebrate the start of summer with an arts festival," states Lisa Barnes, Summer of the Arts Executive Director.

This event celebrates the arts in many different ways through visual arts, performing arts, culinary arts and literary arts for people of all ages. Some of this year’s attractions are as follows:

The Emerging Artist Pavilion, sponsored by Goodfellow Printing and US Bank. Located in the US Bank parking lot (on the corner of Washington and Linn street), spend the day shopping and browsing many talented young artists.

Sponsored by Johnsonville Sausages, Culinary Row is bringing a diverse array food vendors. Options include Mexican, Indian, Mediterranean, Greek, American, as well as vegan and vegetarian, to provide a taste of everything. The vendors are located on the West end of Iowa Avenue.

ART GOES LIVE! is a collection of artist demonstrations back by popular demand, sponsored by downtown businesses. On Saturday and Sunday during the Art Fair, check out Booth #77 (Chait Galleries), Booth #78 (Beadology), Booth #85 (Iowa Artisans Gallery), Booth #91 (The Englert Theater), and Booth #125A (Akar).
The children’s activities are located in the Pedestrian Mall featuring Children's Day, sponsored by MidWestOne Bank and produced by the Iowa City Public Library on Saturday and Global Village, sponsored by West Bank featuring 13 different countries on Sunday.

NEW this year: FUN Stops for kids (and adults) to enjoy themselves will be strategically located throughout the festival and provide interactive arts and crafts.

On Sunday, June 9th at 9:50 a.m., Iowa Arts Festival welcomes its first Carnaval parade! This amazing addition will feature live music and colorful costumes and floats making each person in the parade work of art.

Sponsored by Toyota-Scion of Iowa City, the main stage will include a jam packed weekend of music performances. On opening night, Redbird kicks things off at 7 p.m. on the main stage Friday night. and we welcome back the Richard Thompson Electric Trio at 9 p.m.. Additional musical performances (just to name a few) on Saturday and Sunday: Mutiny in the Parlor, Slewgrass, Kelly Pardekooper, MOvMNT Dance Group, Sam Knutson, Eilen Jewell and Old 97’s. Enjoy these live music performances at the beer garden located on Iowa Avenue at the corner of Dubuque Street by the Main Stage!

Since its beginning in 1983, the Iowa Arts Festival continues to provide the opportunity for individuals of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds to experience, learn about, and enjoy the arts while celebrating summer.

SPECIAL NOTE: With North Dubuque Street closed, motorists coming to Iowa City for the Iowa Arts Festival are asked to take exit 246 (North Dodge Street) to enter the City.