More than 60 artists expected at Art and Soul fest in Elgin this weekend
Editor's note: This story was updated after organizers said there will be no food vendors on the south end of Riverside Drive. Local establishments will be open and serve their own food and drinks.
More than 60 artists and artisans will take part in the 11th annual Art and Soul on the Fox this weekend in downtown Elgin.
The artists will exhibit and sell their works - including painting, sculpture, jewelry, drawings and photography - and will participate in a juried competition. The festival is hosted by the city and the nonprofit Art for All.
"It's a lot of work, but it's a wonderful event for the city and for the artists as well," said Art for All President Jane Erlandson. "My favorite part of the festival is the artists, for sure. Seeing the different types of artwork … and just seeing the artists getting together and the people getting together to see art all in one place."
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3 and 4, on the Riverside Drive Promenade along the Fox River. Dream Hall, 51 S. Grove Ave., will host several artists.
Entertainment will include live music from a pianist, a folk guitarist and possibly a violinist. In addition, a youth mime troupe will roam the festival grounds, Erlandson said.
The KidZone area will offer activities and crafts for children. A local theater company, Goodly Creatures, will host family activities at a booth outside KidZone.
Oddball Alley, an "off-the-wall" artistic component in the pedestrian alleyway connecting South Grove Avenue to Riverside Drive, will be expanded with more artists compared to last year.
The Your Neighbor group will have a booth to print T-shirts for a donation, and the Explore Elgin Area group will have a booth with information for visitors, including about downtown restaurants.
The event is free. Find free parking information at cityofelgin.org/parking.
For more information about the show, including an entertainment schedule and an interactive map, visit elginartandsoul.com. For the latest updates, visit the event page on Facebook.