Annual AREA 22 Fair brings art, oddities to Elgin
Side Street Studio Arts is once again bringing a mix of fine art, handmade goods, and music to Riverside Drive in downtown Elgin with the third annual AREA 22: Arts, Crafts, & Oddities Fair.
Enjoy a summer afternoon along the Fox River as AREA 22 brings together fine art, handmade goods, and the strange, curious, and unexpected. The outdoor fair will feature more than 60 artist booths exhibiting and selling original artwork, fine crafts, and oddities, alongside live art-making, interactive experiences, music and entertainment, local food and beverages, and creative experiences for all ages.
The festival, held in conjunction with the city of Elgin and the Downtown Neighborhood Association, will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. Admission is free.
This year's entertainment and activities include performances by Los Improviachis and 2NBs, free tarot readings, henna artists, live art demonstrations, and opportunities for visitors to discover something unexpected around every corner.
Food vendors include Girl's Got Balls, Goose's Juices, La Cocinita Familiar, and Uncle B's Smoke & Fire, offering a variety of local favorites throughout the day.
“AREA 22 is where downtown Elgin gets weird, wonderful, and wildly creative for the day,” said Tanner Melvin, Side Street founder and executive director. “It is a full-on celebration of artists, makers, collectors, families, and curious people who want to discover something they have never seen before. Come ready to shop, explore, make things, and leave with a story.”
Whether browsing more than 60 artist booths, grabbing lunch from a local food truck, getting a henna design, sitting down for a tarot reading, or taking in live performances, AREA 22 is designed for seasoned collectors, first-time art buyers, families, curious passersby, and anyone looking for a distinctly Elgin way to spend a summer Saturday.
“As Side Street works toward our future home at 62 S. Grove Ave., hosting an event right at our back door on Riverside Drive makes perfect sense,” Melvin said. “AREA 22 is an opportunity to celebrate the artists, small businesses, community partners, and creative energy that make downtown Elgin such a special place.”
Side Street Studio Arts advances engagement in the arts by providing inclusive access to exhibition, performance, education, and advocacy resources, because art is important.
Founded in 2013, Side Street serves thousands of artists, students, and audience members each year through exhibitions, performances, arts education, community partnerships, and creative opportunities that strengthen the cultural vitality of Elgin and the Fox Valley.
For more information about AREA 22 or Side Street Studio Arts, visit sidestreetstudioarts.org, call (847) 429-2276, or email info@sidestreetstudioarts.org.