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ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival at Grand Boulevard May 8-10

May 8, 2015 by SoWal Staff

The 27th annual ArtsQuest, traditionally slated for Mother's Day Weekend, is set to be a celebration of the arts with a French circus theme and entertainment for the whole family. This year, the Cultural Arts Alliance and Visit South Walton will host nearly 200 visiting and local artists, a public arts display, innovative culinary treats, nightly concerts, fundraising for local charities, kids arts activities and entertainment, and nightly concerts. ArtsQuest is set for May 8-10 and will wind throughout the lush green space, relaxing water features and wide streets of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin's Town Center.

ArtsQuest is packed with nearly 200 exhibiting national and local artists, a public arts display featuring South Walton’s Artist of the Year Francisco Adaro, Justin Lyons and Sara Lierly and fresh innovative culinary offerings from Bridgespan 14 and a complete cash bar.

Nightly concerts are new to the festival this year featuring special guests Boukou Groove and the Sluetown Strutters. ArtsQuest will be styled in a French circus theme with traveling entertainment, jugglers and stilt walkers, all inspired by featured artist Amanda Bennett’s artwork.

The Grand Park Main Stage will feature continuous live musical performances for the entire family. 30A Dancewave, the Emerald Coast Theatre Company, The REP, 30A Ballet and the Ohana Institute will all perform in ArtsQuest’s “ImagiNation (where kids rule),” which also feature arts activities and a student art exhibit.

ArtsQuest will be the setting for the exhibition of the Full Plate Project, CAA’s joint fundraiser and community-wide art project and fundraiser with Food for Thought Outreach. Plates painted by children and adults in the community will be sold with proceeds funding arts in education and food for children in need.

Arts Festival Hours
Friday, May 8 | 12pm-7pm
After-party in Grand Park with music by Boukou Groove 7-9pm

Saturday, May 9 | 10am-7pm
After-party in Grand Park with music by the Sluetown Strutters 7-9pm

Sunday, May 10 | 10am-6pm

Food & Beverages

The ArtsQuest Food Tent will offer fresh, organic options from Bridgespan 14, including wraps, sandwiches and salads. Alcoholic beverages, sodas and bottled water will be for sale at the AQ Craft Bar (sponsored by Wine World) in Grand Park throughout the weekend.

Grand Boulevard Restaurants are conveniently located around Town Center and include Cantina Laredo, Fleming's Steak House & Wine Bar, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Wine World's Cheese Bar, Mitchell's Fish Market and Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar.

The ArtsQuest entertainment schedule features both a main stage with local and regional musical acts and the Imagination Stage, with theatre, dance and magic shows designed with kids in mind.

Entertainment Schedule

ArtsQuest would not be possible with out its gracious sponsors: Grand Boulevard, Visit South Walton, Grayton Beer Company, Wine World, Vist Florida, The Dugas Family Foundation, The UPS Store, 360 Blue Properties, Bridgespan 14, Premier Beverage, Another Broken Egg Café, Donut Hole, and Courtyard Marriott.

ArtsQuest began as a small community gathering in Grayton Beach in 1989 and now features nearly 200 exhibiting national, regional and local artists competing for $10,000 in cash awards, art workshops, live art demonstrations, music, food, wine, ImagiNation (where kids rule) and more. Read more at ArtsQuestFlorida.com.

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) is a local arts agency that supports the arts through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. The vision of the CAA is to be the catalyst for Walton County's growth as a destination for cultural and artistic excellence through which lives are enriched, economy is stimulated and community is strengthened.