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<\/a>\u201cThe Kids ART Block section is a crowd favorite,\u201d organizers said on the official event website. \u201cKids are given the opportunity to participate in a variety of interactive arts related activities all geared to teach and inspire young minds to explore their own artistic creativity.\u201d Planned activities include origami-making lessons, crafting with recycled items and multi-media and photography projects.<\/p>\n
North Park Craft Mafia will once again host the festival\u2019s Spring Line Up, which the arts and crafts nonprofit has overseen since founding in 2007.<\/p>\n
Called the \u201chub\u201d of North Park\u2019s artistic community, Ray Street will be home to \u201clocal artist creations, live demonstrations and temporary installations created just for the festival,\u201d organizers said.<\/p>\n
There are over 35 juried artists for this year\u2019s event, including Ashley Carattini, Eric Cantrell, Rowshan Dowlatabadi and Amy Baca-Lopez, a North Park Main Street artist. This year\u2019s featured artist is Sarah Stieber, who was selected by festival organizers during an open search for new talent that would best represent the spirit of the festival.<\/p>\n
Stieber, who recently participated in the Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy and also hosted her own show called \u201cPeaceful Chaos\u201d at Cirello Gallery on Ray Street, spent time as a teenager in Florence, Italy, studying art at the Uffizi museum. During graduate school at Boston University, she also worked in Venice, Italy, and returned to California after graduation.<\/p>\n
There will also be an interactive artist event centered at the San Diego Art Department (SDAD) located at 3830 Ray St. Called the Quick Draw Plein Air Competition, the event will see participants complete works of art throughout the festival between 12 and 1 p.m., which will then be on display in front of SDAD and available for purchase.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe all-ages event invites artists, competition painters, professionals, amateurs and hobbyists to compete and have fun,\u201d said Lesley Anderson of SDAD. \u201cThese artists have two hours to complete their work \u2026 giving onlookers the opportunity to see artists in action.\u201d Registration for the competition begins at 9:30 a.m. at SDAD and\u00a0 Anderson said they were hoping to have at least 20 participants.<\/p>\n
Called \u201ca festival within a festival,\u201d this year sees the return of the Craft Beer Block, an enclosed beer-garden style venue featuring selections from several regional craft breweries. There are 25 participating breweries total, including Chuck Alek Independent Brewers, Julian Hard Cider, Mad Lab Craft Brewing, Hillcrest Brewing Company, Thorn St. Brewery and Iron Fist Brewing Co.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorth Park Festival of Arts is excited for the return of the Craft Beer Block,\u201d organizers said. \u201cBeer enthusiasts will have the opportunity to sample the best craft beer prepared by San Diego\u2019s top brewers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The addition of the Craft Beer Block is described on the festival\u2019s blog as a \u201cmore budget-friendly\u201d beer fest. \u201cThis is perfect for seasoned beer lovers who don\u2019t want to travel high and low for a good pastime. Because of the large space, beer enthusiasts [are] able to enjoy the festivities without the feeling of being in a mosh pit,\u201d the blog stated.<\/p>\n Advance tickets for the Craft Beer Block are $25, rising to $30 the day of the event. Tickets include 12 four-ounce samples and a commemorative glass. Organizers said there will also be \u201cbeer-friendly bites\u201d available for purchase, all from North Park restaurants. Entry into the Craft Beer block ends at 5:15 p.m.<\/p>\n Live entertainment rounds out the festival, with five stages placed along University Avenue. The main stage will be located at the intersection of 30th Street and University Avenue, and bands from almost all music genres will be represented.<\/p>\n \u201cThe local bands featured on this stage will engage your senses both musically and visually,\u201d organizers said. \u201cMusicians range in age from kids to seasoned professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n There is also a World Music Stage at Grim and University avenues, with performances starting at 11:30 a.m., a Beats & Eats stage near the food court and the Dance Stage at 32nd Street and University Avenue, hosting over 23 different groups.<\/p>\n \u201cFine Arts in Motion will entertain audiences of all ages at the 32nd Street Dance Stage featuring performances by \u2026 over 300 dancers from all over San Diego,\u201d organizers said.<\/p>\n Most performances will end closer to the 6 p.m. event end, however the Bar Pink Stage, located in the beer garden, will have bands throughout the evening, with the Wild Wild Wets taking the stage at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n \u201cLocated in the Public House Beer Garden on University Avenue and 31st Street, the Bar Pink stage is an eclectic mix of Indie Rock bands,\u201d organizers said. \u201cFind new sounds of San Diego and dance into the dark as the party in the Public House is extended into evening hours.\u201d<\/p>\n Parking in the North Park parking garage, located at 3829 29th St., will be free for the day. Additionally, the San Diego Bike Coalition will be hosting a free bicycle valet to help decrease parking congestion at 30th Street and University Avenue. San Diego Metro buses will be running as well: lines 2, 6, 7 and 10.<\/p>\n<\/a>