The City of Lakes Art Fair is set to debut this October at Bde Maka Ska Lake in Minneapolis, extending the region’s art fair season into the fall. Scheduled for October 11-12, 2024, the event aims to fill a gap for artists and attendees looking for outdoor art displays during the autumn months.
Nichole Showalter, the events manager at Homespun Events, noted that the transition from summer to winter often leaves artists without opportunities to showcase their work. “Artists see a big kind of space between summer and winter markets and events, and oftentimes there aren’t many outdoor ones, particularly in Minneapolis in the autumn,” she explained. This new fair will feature 140 local and national artists, alongside live music and food vendors, creating a vibrant atmosphere along the lakeside paths.
Applications for artists, food vendors, and musicians opened last week, with a submission deadline of August 15. This initiative is part of a broader effort by Homespun Events, which also organizes the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair, Edina Art Fair, Minnehaha Falls Art Fair, and the holiday-themed Minnesota Merry Market at the State Fair in December.
While many artists are enthusiastic about the new fair, reactions within the community vary. Some artists are eager to participate, while others cite fatigue from the summer fair circuit or existing travel plans.
Ceramicist Joy O’Conner, the owner of EARTHENjoy, is a veteran of the summer art fair scene. Having participated in six fairs this summer, including the well-known Art-A-Whirl, she expressed her excitement about the City of Lakes Art Fair. “I make so many one-off pieces,” O’Conner said, attributing a significant portion of her income—85-90%—to these events. “My customers know that the place they’re going to find the biggest selection from me and the newest work is always at the art fairs.”
Conversely, designer Sarah Butala, who specializes in handmade leather goods through her business, Strey Designs, has travel already scheduled for the fair weekend. Despite her disappointment, she plans to apply next year. Butala views the City of Lakes Art Fair as a potential revival of the energy previously seen at the Uptown Art Fair, which has since been rebranded and relocated to south Minneapolis. “I loved the Uptown Art Fair because it wasn’t just your typical art fairgoers,” she remarked. “It brought people from all diversities and income brackets.”
The City of Lakes Art Fair aims not only to enrich the local art scene but also to foster community engagement, offering a platform for artists and vendors to connect with a diverse audience. As the event approaches, anticipation builds for what promises to be a unique celebration of creativity against the picturesque backdrop of Bde Maka Ska Lake.
