Port Clinton Art Festival
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A Cultural Tradition on the North Shore
Chris Seeman
Highland Park, IL – The Port Clinton Art Festival returns to downtown Highland Park on Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Free and open to the public, the Port Clinton Art Festival is ranked the number four show in the country. Founded and produced by Amdur Productions, this distinguished outdoor festival features fine art from more than 260 juried artists hailing from around country. Young artists, ages eighteen and under, shine in the Youth Division of Show, which offers youth an opportunity to experience participating in a real art festival. More than 250,000 loyal art lovers travel from places near and far to visit this acclaimed show annually.
Today, the Trib Local featured a wonderful interview about the history of the Port Clinton Festival:
Twenty-seven years ago my father, Steven Amdur, and his partner developed Port Clinton Square. My father looked to me to find a reason for people to come to Port Clinton. The area needed a draw. We created a summer line-up of event including the Taste of Port Clinton, Music in the Plaza and, of course, the Port Clinton Art Festival. I had been an artist and an art lover my entire life and knew I would be able to pour my heart and soul into this work. Twenty-seven years later the festival is still rated one of the Top Five in the county annually and one of the best attended nationally. Today more than 260 of the finest artists in the world are showcased at the Port Clinton Art Festival.”
In addition to the incredible artwork available at the festival, fun activities for showgoers of all ages take place. Activities just for kids, including an art BINGO game where children serve as art explorers and an art wall which children can help paint, take place throughout the weekend.
Dale Rogers
Live music from several local bands continues throughout the weekend. When festival-goers are not perusing the fine art available at the festivals, they can often be found dancing to the sounds of the festival’s featured performers. Chicagoland’s Best Acoustic Band Cirrus Falcon, harpist Ariane Lydon, and many more performers will take the stage during the festival.
This year the Taste of Highland Park takes place in conjunction with the festival. Guests are invited to sip, nibble and nosh from several of Highland Park’s most celebrated restaurants. The Taste of Highland Park opens at 6:00 pm on Friday, August 27 and continues throughout the weekend. Chicago area bands will also perform during the Taste. For more information, visit: www.downtownhp.com.
Ari Gradus
Enjoy the 27th Annual Port Clinton Art Festival on Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at Port Clinton Square in downtown Highland Park. Admission and parking are free.
Visit online at www.amdurproductions.com or find us on Facebook.
Founded in 1984 Amdur Productions, Inc. is a nationally acclaimed arts festival production company that organizes and directs a selection of Chicago area’s most prestigious and successful juried summer art fairs. All of Amdur’s festivals have been rated in Sunshine Artist Magazine’s top 100 with half in the top 50; and the Art at the Glen Town Center and Port Clinton Art Festival are in the top 10.
Downtown Highland Park is brought to you by the Highland Park CBD Alliance, a partnership of the downtown Property Owners Association, the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Highland Park. The Alliance was founded in 2008 to enhance the economic vitality of the central business district of Highland Park.
For more information, visit: www.downtownhp.com.
