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Alley Art Fest in downtown Aurora to showcase local artisans Aug. 31

Posted August 21, 2024 6:46 pm

Submitted by Marissa Amoni

Find locally made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade goods and more at the annual Art Alley Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31. Courtesy of J. Weber

Alley Art Festival will fill downtown Aurora with artists for its 14th year from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31.

The free festival will be bringing more than 90 local artists to the area.

The popular, grassroots art festival will be staged on both pedestrian-friendly Water Street Mall and Downer Place between Stolp Avenue and Water Street.

This year’s festival is presented by Superjumbo Records and state Rep. Barbara Hernandez. Other sponsors include: Aurora Downtown, Gina Salamone, and Community Advocacy Awareness Network.

The festival will feature artists and artisans from noon to 5 p.m. following the Aurora Farmers Market across the street at Water Street Square, which runs from 8 a.m. to noon that morning.

The annual festival highlights locally made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade goods, and more.

Live music, belly dancing, children’s activities, and food vendors will all be part of the afternoon.

See singer-songwriter Matthew Garcia, a recent West Aurora High School grad, performing at the annual Art Alley in Aurora. Courtesy of Matthew Garcia

Enjoy performances at the pavilion at Mundy Park next to Water Street Mall, 21 S. Broadway.

Singer-songwriter Matthew Garcia, a recent West Aurora High School grad, will perform at noon. And dancers with Dianella Dance, Magnolia Dance Collective, and Thalia Dance will take the stage at 2 p.m.

Enjoy The L’s, a mother-and-daughter duo, performing songs from your favorite female bands and soloists at 3 p.m.

The Ls, a mother-daughter duo, will perform at the Art Alley Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31. Courtesy of The Ls

Food vendors will include Strawberries BBQ, The Lovely Lemon, Holy Pierogi, Polly Ann Cakes, and Snow Ballin Sisters.

There is free and plentiful parking available at city surface lots. For more information, visit alleyartaurora.com.

Alley Art Festival is an independently run event, started in 2010 by Aurora community organizer Marissa Amoni, and Aurora artists Jenn Byrne, Lisa Gloria, and Nate Miller.

The festival is a grassroots, community event that focuses on providing local artists with an outlet to sell their work and engage with the arts community.

Over the years, Alley Art Festival has doubled in size from about 40 artists to nearly 100.

Follow www.facebook.com/alleyartfest.

Find locally made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade goods and more at the annual Art Alley Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31. Courtesy of Vizo Arts

Aurora artist Lisa Manning created this banner to promote Alley Art Festival. Courtesy of Vizo Arts

Find locally made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade goods and more at the annual Art Alley Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31. Courtesy of Gary Bahnick

Find locally made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade goods and more at the annual Art Alley Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31. Courtesy of Vizo Arts

Find locally made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade goods and more at the annual Art Alley Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31. Courtesy of J Weber

Find locally made art, jewelry, pottery, handmade goods and more at the annual Art Alley Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31. Courtesy of J. Weber

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