Spring Arts Festival

@moffittjc (118221)
Gainesville, Florida
April 3, 2016 9:08am CST
After cancelling yesterday's festivities due to severe weather moving through the area, today is shaping up to be a perfect day for an art festival! With clear blue skies, high temperatures in the mid-70's, and no humidity, one couldn't ask for a more perfect day to get cultured in art! The Spring Arts Festival is an annual event that takes place on a tree-lined boulevard in our city's downtown, and features 220 of the nation's best artists. With attendance of over 100,000 people, this is the second largest art festival in our city after November's Downtown Arts Festival. Leaving winter behind, attendees come out and feast their eyes on bright spring colors. Artists from all over the country come to Gainesville to display a variety of works, including watercolor, sculpture, wood, glass, jewelry, photography and more. There are also multiple stages set up throughout the festival for musicians and other acts. Kids even have their own separate activity area, called the Art Jungle, which is a mini-art festival until itself. The event takes place in the Downtown Gainesville Historic District, providing a beautiful backdrop to the unique art pieces. As much as I'd love to spend the entire day at the art festival, I have to split my time today between two special events, so I will be spending my morning/early afternoon at the art festival, and then my late afternoon/evening at another adjacent street festival. What are your plans today?
7 people like this
7 responses
• United States
3 Apr 16
I am going to make copies of several chapters of my book, so my writers' group can help edit this morning. This afternoon I will go play bocce in the park. Lots of fun. Enjoy your festivals.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 16
Sounds like fun! I happen to love bocce, but it's been years since I last played. When I worked in south Florida, I used to run a bocce league for the parks and recreation department I worked for!
• United States
5 Apr 16
@JudyEv The game is fun, especially if the people you are playing with are too.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323745)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 16
We often play bocce on our grass when we have friends come. It's a lot of fun.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323745)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 16
That's pretty good having two street festivals to attend! Lucky you. :)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Apr 16
It definitely was a busy day, but I had so much fun! The only bad part was that I spent more money than I had wanted to buying several art pieces. But I guess that's good for the artists!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Apr 16
@JudyEv I make a point to buy at least one piece of art at every art festival I attend. It's my way of showing support for the artists. As much fun as art festivals are, at the end of the day the artists need to be able to make some money to make their effort worth it. I try to help in any way I can.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323745)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 16
@moffittjc You will have made the artists happy so that's all good. :)
1 person likes this
@quantum2020 (12040)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
3 Apr 16
My brother and I love art festivals. I wish I could go there one day. I guess the weather is wonderful now in Florida and the festival should be a must attend event for anyone who is interested in art.
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 16
I just returned from the art festival, and I would have to say we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day for an outdoor event! The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and the festival was packed with people!
@VivaLaDani13 (59989)
• Perth, Australia
13 May 16
Your day sounded more fun than what I am doing lol Well, I am enjoying myself though. Working on MyLot and watching Frasier.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 May 16
Wow, I haven't watched Frasier in years! I used to love that show!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 May 16
@VivaLaDani13 I was never a fan of video games. Not because I think they are bad or anything, it's just that I was never any good at them! LOL
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
16 May 16
@moffittjc Good way to look at it actually. I agree. I often lose myself watching TV shows / movies because it's a way to escape from reality. It's why I love playing a PS3 game called Saints Row 2. Cause you can create the character to look any way you wish so I always make it to look like me. It's like I am in a totally different world. Plus the missions on that game is just fun to me.
1 person likes this
• India
3 Apr 16
It was nice reading the piece; so excited to know about such colorful festival. It is also Spring in our country and we too have different colourful festivals during this season. According to me, Spring is the most lovely season of all. Though there is much heat during the day, the evening comes with the coolest breeze refreshing our mood!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 16
Spring is just so magical because we finally emerge from the cold depths of winter, and are finally able to get outside and enjoy the warmth of the sun, the beauty of blossoming plants and trees, and the fresh air. It is a favorite season of mine as well!
1 person likes this
@Dextoi (1845)
• Philippines
5 Apr 16
Wow! That is some great festival you have there. I wonder if it's just visual art? or did they include music as well? In our country, we considered February as "arts month" though we don't celebrate it like you do (which would have been great). We have local bands, dancers and visual artists meet in a venue which is often times a basketball gymnasium. I think it would be great if they would make it like the one you have there. A pretty large area covered.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Apr 16
There was music as well as art. The art festival was in the downtown area of our city, and at one end of the festival was a plaza with a big concert stage for bands to play music. All throughout the day there were musicians performing on that stage.
@Dextoi (1845)
• Philippines
6 Apr 16
@moffittjc oh my! How I wish I could be there. Though we have other festivities that are observed in a year (Church patron's feast), art is not so recognized here in our city. It's hard to get sponsors from government officials and private businesses.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116876)
• Anniston, Alabama
3 Apr 16
None, I want to do nothing. I would love to go to an art festival. I know this small town had its Spring festival yesterday but I was to tired to even think about walking the streets. Have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118221)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 16
I felt that way yesterday, so I was actually thankful the severe storms passed through the area, cancelling everything. I was so lazy, I pretty much laid on the couch the entire day yesterday! lol