This year's Edmond Arts Fest to have more vendors

Buzz up!
BY JOHN A. WILLIAMS
Published: April 29, 2009



EDMOND — The 30th annual Downtown Edmond Arts Festival begins Friday with a few changes.
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Karen Morton, the president of the Downtown Edmond Business Association, said more than 110 artists are expected to display works of art during the three-day event.

This year, the entertainment stage has been moved.

“We've put the entertainment on the plaza at Festival Marketplace. We'll have tables over there so people can go over there and eat and enjoy the music,” Morton said.

Also this year, First Street will be closed from the railroad tracks to accommodate more artists and vendors.

University of Central Oklahoma professor Bob Palmer — this year's celebrity artist — will be painting on canvas during the event.

Returning to the festival are Chef Mike Varnell's ice sculpturing and Othello's annual Spaghetti Slur-Off.

Downtown Edmond Business Association promotions manager Leah Kessler said food vendors will serve onion blossoms, Indian tacos, catfish, German food, pizza, fried pies, funnel cakes, fried onion burgers, kettle corn, cold drinks and smoothies. Some Oklahoma wineries will offer wine tasting.

A children's area in Festival Market Place will have face painting, pony rides, slide, moon walk and rock climbing wall.

Kessler said the intersection of Second and Broadway and First Street at the railroad crossing will be closed at 8 a.m. Thursday through 5 p.m. Sunday.

The festival is from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 249-939 or go to http://downtown edmondok.com.