LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield Art Guild (LAG) is putting a new spin on an old favorite, transforming its popular spring art show into a multi-day family-friendly arts festival.
The first Lynnfield Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Lynnfield Common and in the Meeting House.
“This is a new venture for us, opening the event up to the entire community with free live music, dozens of community organizations and children’s activities,” said Beth Aaronson, president of the Lynnfield Art Guild. “Going forward, we plan to keep the public informed with additional details about the festival as they become available.”
In addition to a judged arts show and sale in the Meeting House featuring more than 125 works of art, the festival will offer the public a free chance to create art, observe artists at work and interact with many local organizations.
Among the groups expected to participate are: A Healthy Lynnfield, Centre Congregational Church, Girl Scouts Troop 691, Friends of the Lynnfield Library, Ipswich River Watershed and Essex County Greenbelt Associations, Lynnfield for Love, Lynnfield Rail Trail, Lynnfield Rotary, the Lynnfield Tree Committee, The Savings Bank, and the Village Home & Garden Club.
LAG members will be on hand demonstrating techniques while doing plein-air paintings. A staffed creative corner will feature hands-on art activities for children and there will be interactive games, projects, and handouts at several of the organizations’ tables.
Patrons will have a chance to win a tree, make a flower pot, take home a pollinator kit, and watch videos of Lynnfield’s natural beauty. Artisan tables include Diane Bruno’s hand-crafted kish pots, Lark Learning Stem and Mossy Frog Studio.
There will be plenty of tasty refreshments. Food vendors Fork on a Road and Grateful Tastes will complement a Guild-sponsored bake sale of individually-wrapped goods with a special celebration of the 100th anniversary of Marshmallow Fluff. Ribbon winners and cash prizes will be announced at the start of the show.
The festival will feature the live music of The Boston Skyline Chorus, Blue of a Kind and the Swamptones and promises to be filled with fine art, artisans, children’s activities, community organizations, and free live musical performances.
On Saturday, Boston Skyline Chorus, an all-female acapella ensemble and chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will perform at 11 a.m. The chorus showcases all musical genres from old favorites to new hits to Broadway show tunes and patriotic standards.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, the Melrose-based all-male acapella group Blue of a Kind will perform. Founded in 2005, Blue of a Kind is passionately committed to inspiring and enlightening audiences with a lively repertoire and charming style with original arrangements of music for the male voice.
On Sunday afternoon beginning at noon, North Reading-based Swamptones plays New Orleans-influenced jazz, blues, and Zydeco music.
All musical performances will be held on the outdoor stage adjacent to the Lynnfield Meeting House, 617 Main St., weather permitting.
LAG is grateful to all its sponsors, including the Wakefield Co-operative Bank (cash prizes for adult and student art) and MarketStreet Lynnfield (creative corner materials).
Membership in LAG is open to artists, artisans and photographers from Lynnfield and neighboring communities.
