5 things to know about this weekend’s Cape Coral Arts & Music Festival – News-Press


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The 35th annual Cape Coral Arts & Music Festival is coming up Jan. 11-12. What a glorious two days in the neighborhood! An estimated 100,000 arts and crafts and music lovers will wander among the vendor and food tents lined up along either side of Cape Coral Parkway, feasting upon art and fair food, shopping, and conversing with artists and craftsmen about the wonders of their creations. It is the largest arts and crafts show in Southwest Florida. Hours for the event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Cape Coral, are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Rest up for it, because it is worth the effort. Here’s why.

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1. It is a first-class, juried art show with artists and artisans come from as far north as New York and as far west as California. If it’s worth their time and expense to trek to Cape Coral for this festival, it’s probably worth your time to meet them there. Six categories of artwork are represented: painting, photography, digital art, mixed media, sculpture, fine crafts and jewelry. The wonders that manifest from the imagination and skill of these artists are truly marvelous.

2. Worth separate mention here is the exhibition dedicated to art students from K-12 in Lee County called “Student’s Artway on the Parkway.” The world needs artists and we are breeding some fine, new ones here in Lee County. Also, for the first time this year, the festival will be accessible to the visually impaired. Every exhibitor whose work can be enjoyed by touch will be encouraged to display a small banner or green ribbon that signifies their work is accessible to visually impaired attendees. 

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3. The music, like the arts section of the festival, features musicians from across the nation, playing everything from rock and roll, hard rock, and country to blues, jazz, and gospel. If you need to sit for a while, nearby restaurants and bars will also have live music and refreshing cocktails to soothe your arts-overloaded senses.

4. The marketplace section of the festival hosts local businesses and nonprofits, offering festival attendees the rare opportunity to learn from company reps about beneficial local services and charities worthy of your attention. 

5. And, of course, there’s the food. It’s okay if you attend this monumental festival just to eat. The only problem is having too many beguiling choices and too little stomach to stuff it in, but do the best you can, sweetheart.

For more information, go to https://www.capecoralfestival.com.

Cynthia Williams1020@gmail.com

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