It’s almost here! The 35th annual Art in the Park takes place this weekend at Willistead Park.
Windsor’s
beloved annual outdoor arts exhibition -- a sure sign that summer is just
around the corner – will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2
on the elegant grounds of Windsor’s architectural treasure, Willistead Manor.
“Everything’s
in place and we’re good to go”, Renee Pare, Chair of Art in the Park 2013, said
in eager anticipation. “After a full year of planning, we can’t wait to throw
open the park gates and get on with our show. With a sold-out, record 283
exhibitors and vendors, it’s going to be our biggest and best Art in the Park
ever.”
The
largest annual art exhibition of its kind in the region, Art in the Park was
recently named one of the top 100 festivals in the province by Arts And
Festivals Ontario for the second consecutive year. It’s one of just a few
“juried” art shows at which standards of quality and acceptance is at a
consistently high level.
Although
the big outdoor arts and crafts show takes place on Saturday from 10 am to
7 pm and on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, event organizers have planned a
gala pre-event launch party in the park on Friday evening, May 31. Art in the
Park has signed two well-known country music performers for this year’s event.
Canadian country artist Dallas Smith will headline the AITP Goes Country Friday
night pre-event show. The evening starts with the Karaoke finals. The
winners were selected last night at the Bull N Barrel and the talent will blow
you away. Crystal Gage, a local country favourite takes the stage next to
entertain the crowd. With country line dancing and best dressed
cowboy and cowgirl contests, the night will be a lot of fun. Tickets for the
Friday night launch
party ($20 in advance, $25 at the gate) are available online, at all WFCU
branches and at High
Jinks Indoor Playcare.
Check out aipwindsor.com for more info.
Leah
Daniels heads up
the Saturday night performance along with a great selection of local
entertainment – so shop all day,
then head to the Spirit tent for a great evening with Art in the Park!
Beer,
wine and other refreshments will again be available in the Spirit Tent in the
park with Fine
Wines by Hiram Walker and Sons, North 42 Degrees Estate Winery and Erie Shore
Vineyard. As well“Cold Beer” from right in the heart of Walkerville, the
Walkerville Brewery will be available. And of course
Hiram Walker will once again be providing the “AIP specialty drinks” to quench
your thirst.
Top
that off with great musical entertainment through out the weekend. Upscale food
services will also
be available in the Spirit Tent from Spago Trattoria, Ming Wah, Gourmet
Emporium, Thai Palace and
the Mongolian Grill.
Admission is a family-friendly $4 per person/per day in
advance at Shoppers
Drug Mart locations, WFCU branches and High Jinks Indoor Playcare, or $5 at
the gate.
Children
12 and under are admitted FREE.
Delicious
menu options are also available in our Art in the Park Food Court. Check out
your Event
Guide
for money saving food coupons.
Paul
Murray has graciously donated a beautiful piece of art on 30 x 40 canvas –
limited edition
Kentucky
Coal. Tickets for the raffle will be available throughout the weekend event for
$5 each.
You
will want to buy multiple tickets once you see how incredible this artwork is!
Only 1,720 tickets will
be sold. Raffle will be drawn on Monday, June 3rd at the Rotary Club of Windsor
(1918) meeting at
the Caboto Club at 1:30pm. Winner need not be present to win.
BUT
THERE IS MORE….there is a 2nd chance to win a copy of this art. Paul Murray has
also donated a 2nd
smaller 12 x 18 version of Kentucky Coal. This canvas piece will be offered as
a Facebook contest.
Go to
the Art in the Park Facebook page and find the Paul Murray Contest – simply
SHARE the post and
you are automatically entered into the contest. Winner will be drawn on Monday,
June 24th at the
Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) meeting at the Caboto Club at 1:30 pm. Winner need
not be present
to win.
The
nearly 300 artists and artisans from across Ontario and Quebec will once more
display andsell their creative handiwork in attractive booths and displays arranged around the Willistead Park perimeter. More than 20,000 visitors are expected to visit the park during the eagerly-anticipated two-day public art extravaganza. Make sure to take a tour of the Willistead Manor, where this year they have brought in the Windsor Endowment for the Arts who have gathered a selection of their grant winners.
A true family affair, Art in the Park offers a whole lot more than just beautiful paintings and other irresistible art objects. Over the years, show organizers have greatly expanded and enhanced the show’s content to appeal to all ages and interests. Children will have their own fun play area in the ever-popular AIP Kids Zone. With interactive fun, including a Kids Zone Art Contest, Art Mural for all to participate, and a Karaoke machine to show off their musical talent.
FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE
To
make this popular annual event convenient as well as fun, Art in the Park is
once again partnering with G & L Stevenson Transport to provide free
parking and continuous complimentary shuttle buses to and from Willistead Park.
The two satellite parking lots are at the Hiram Walker employee’s parking lot
on Riverside Drive E. at Montreuil St., and the Windsor Regional Hospital
parking lot on Kildare Rd. two blocks north of Tecumseh Rd. E.
Art
in the Park has been held under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Windsor
(1918) – with special support this year from Caesars Windsor – since 1970.
Proceeds from this extremely popular annual event go toward supporting local
special needs children, youth and adults as well as to the ongoing restoration
and preservation of Willistead Manor. To date, Art in the Park has raised more
well over $1 million for Willistead alone.
*CHECK OUT THE MAY ISSUE OF BIZ X MAGAZINE ON THIS SITE TO LEARN MORE!
by Richard Rosenthal
