Music, Art, Food & Culture Attract Thousands to Arts Festival, Norman Music Festival

April may bring spring showers, but it also brings thousands of visitors to central Oklahoma for two of the largest festivals in the state.

The Oklahoma Festival of the Arts in Oklahoma City and the Norman Music Festival, both held in April, satisfy Oklahomans’ thirst for cultural activities, rocking shows and shopping.

Festival of the Arts

The 2015 Festival of the Arts, considered the city’s “rite-of-spring,” will be held April 21-26 at the Festival Plaza and the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Downtown Oklahoma.

Each year, more than 144 fine artists from across the United States exhibit at the Festival, with total art sales averaging $1.2 million annually. The Festival, full of its color and talent, also attracts more than 750,000 visitors to the event, which is supported by more than 5,000 volunteers.

“Visitors this year can expect to find great artists from all over the country, entertaining musical performances and amazing international foods,” said Louis Price, co-chair. “Whatever their interest, there is something for everyone at the Festival.”

Festival of the Arts also features four stages of performing arts, street performers, international cuisine, extensive children’s programming and hands-on activities for art lovers of all ages.

The Festival, which began in 1967, started with only 40 featured artists and homemade sandwiches. Now, in its 49th year, the Festival of the Arts boasts of 144 artists from across the globe and 30 food vendors.

“Our Festival is unique in that it runs for six full days, infusing a festive atmosphere throughout downtown. All 144 juried visual artists are present with their work all week to meet and interact with visitors,” said Price.

The 144 chosen artists are some of the nation’s finest, with media including oils, water, drawing and printmaking, photography, ceramics, glass, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, wood and two and three-dimensional works.

Besides its fun aspect, Festival of the Arts has a dramatic impact on the community. The food vendors team up with nonprofit organizations who get a portion of the money made, community groups and schools are highlighted through performances and the children’s area, which is free, exposes families to the world of art.

“Business people, school children and families all gather together during the run of Festival to share in the fun and excitement,” said Price.

For more information, call 405-270-4848 or visit artscouncilokc.com/festival-of-the-arts.

 

Norman Music Festival

Entering its eighth year, Norman Music Festival will be held April 23-25, bringing in headliners and bands from around the globe to central Oklahoma.

Since it was created in 2008, Norman Music Festival has quickly become one of the premier festivals in the nation.

“Norman Music Festival is definitely growing,” said Bree Montoya, chairman of the Norman Music Festival 8. “Norman was hungry for a music festival that offers a wide variety of genres. More and more people are coming, and that’s because they like the different musical genres.”

What started as a one-day festival has now grown and expanded to a three-day festival with more than 300 artists in downtown Norman and more than 70,000 people in attendance at Norman Music Festival 7.

Ra Ra Riot and Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires are featured on the two main headliner stages during the free, three-day festival in downtown Norman.

The electronic, synthpop band Ra Ra Riot from Syracuse, NY, will highlight their last album, “Beta Love,” which was released in 2014 through Barsuk Records. The last time the band performed in Oklahoma City was in 2011 and then Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa in 2013.

 

Alabama rock band Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires has been on tour for most of 2014 since their sophomore album “Deconstructed” was released through Sub Pop Records. Their stop at Norman Music Festival 8 will be their last stop of their North American tour before going to Europe for the Great Escape Festival starring Alabama Shakes.

Nadastrom, a two-piece of producers Dave Nada and Matt Nordstrom, are headlining the new EDM and hip-hop stage on Saturday, sponsored by Bacardi. They will be accompanied by Crystal Vision, made up of Katie Wicks and Bryan Peace, and Emmy Award winner Jabee Williams. More acts on this stage will be announced soon.

The historic Sooner Theatre will host a lineup filled with local talent Friday night. Horse Thief headlines the showcase with Pageantry, Idabel, Moongiant and Aaron Pierce.

Also on Friday night, the Oklahoma Blues Society Stage will feature Steve Coleman & Powerhouse, Old #5’s, Flatland Band and Kristine Jude.

“I hope to see tens of thousands of people this year,” Montoya said. “With the headliners we have this year, we hope to see Main Street packed full of people. We aren’t just Norman’s music festival; we’re Oklahoma’s music festival.”

For more info, visit normanmusicfestival.com.

 

Written by Heidi Brandes