5 Ways to Celebrate Creativity at Panoply Arts Festival

Panoply Arts Festival has been a staple event in Huntsville for 36 years.

After all this time, you might think you’ve seen it all.

But that’s where you’d be wrong.

Each year there are new ways to celebrate not only the creativity and talent of the performing musicians, dancers, and exhibiting artists, but your own as well.

Here are 5 ways you can experience creativity at #Panoply2018 (which is the hashtag you should DEFINITELY use on Instagram! Photos using the hashtag will be featured on artshuntsville.org’s Panoply page and shared by festival organizers throughout the weekend):

1. ART MARKETPLACE

Let’s start with the obvious. Where better to find inspiration than in the Panoply Art Marketplace, featuring 110 professional artists from 16 states.

Don’t fancy yourself an “art” person? Just take a turn through the marketplace and talk to us then 😉.

The art ranges from the aesthetic (sculptures, paintings, photography) to the functional (jewelry, fiber arts, woodwork, pottery) and everything in-between. Here is where you can not only find a piece of art that will inspire you every time you look at, wear, or use it…but it’s where you can meet the artists, learn their story and maybe even find a piece of art that resonates with your own. Explore this year’s artists here.

2. LIVE MUSIC

Panoply has three main performances stages, featuring more than 50 music and dance performances all weekend long. The music starts as soon as festival gates open, so bring your festival chairs or a blanket, and relax to enjoy live music from local and regional bands in a variety of genres.

Featured performances that are new to the festival this year include: Striking Matches, The New Respects, and Saturday night headliner Steven Page, formerly of the Barenaked Ladies. (P.S. You can get a pre-show meet & greet with Steven or exclusive indoor concert, in the case of rain, by purchasing a Rain or Shine VIP pass for his show!

Get yours here. There are only a limited amount!)

See the full lineup here.

The Rose Theatre Brampton Ontario Canada

3. COMMUNITY MOSAIC

You can help create a piece of art that will live long after the festival weekend is over. This year First Baptist Church of Huntsville is bringing pieces of original tile from its iconic Cosmic Christ mural (you might know it as “Eggbeater Jesus”) for the community to create a large-scale mosaic image celebrating the heart of Huntsville.

4. ARTS ALIVE!

The Arts Alive tent is where Arts Huntsville’s member artists showcase their talent up-close-and-personal. Here is where you can discover a band that isn’t on the main stage, relax for a book reading, catch a magic show, or meet a character from your favorite local theatre production (like Raggedy Ann & Andy, Snow White, and more). You can also snag a sweet screen-printed bag to carry around all your Panoply goodies.

5. STEAM STREET

Panoply has long focused on the intersection of arts and sciences through its STEAM Interactive Activities. This year they come together on STEAM Street. New to the festival this year, you can make a thaumatrope with Huntsville STEAMworks, learn about the Golden Ratio with Defense Acquisition University, and create large-scale geometric designs on the green with Urban Engine.

See a full list of interactive activities.

Tickets:

There is so much to explore at Panoply Arts Festival you may not be able to do it all in one day. This is where the Weekend Pass comes in at only $18.

Know you can only make it one day? Single Day passes are $10, and Kids 12 and under get in FREE.

All activities inside the festival are also free of charge.