Artplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival Announces Full Line-Up of Visual & Performing Artists

Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival, today announced the festival’s lineup of visual and performing artists!

New this year: The festival will have two fully programmed sites complete with performance stages: the Fayetteville St. Art Market, anchored by the City Plaza Main Stage, and the Moore Square festival area and Park Stage. The juried Art Market will return to Fayetteville St. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with Main Stage performances each evening. ‘Artlets’ featuring dance, theatre, and other interactive activities will occur on each of the intersecting streets branching from Fayetteville St. Moore Square will hold Kidsplosure festivities, as well as the Art Putt miniature golf course, and Park Stage performances on both Saturday and Sunday.

As it has been for 37 years, admission is free for Artsplosure. This ‘Art For All’ festival is planned and presented for the whole community to enjoy.

This year’s Art Market will open at 11 a.m. on Friday, featuring nearly 180 visual artists from across North Carolina and the nation. These artists and crafters exhibit and sell their original works of art in the following categories: ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood, other 2D and 3D works. Three expert judges will award $3,500 across six merit awards to the top artists in the market.

Fayetteville Street will be filled with music beginning Friday at 5:15 p.m. on the Main Stage at City Plaza, with performances by Donovan Woods, Zack Mexico, and Futurebirds.

Starting at 12:00 pm Saturday, Artsplosure will open the City Plaza Main Stage on Fayetteville Street with music from Enloe & Southeast High School marching bands accompanying Joel Martin, a full set of Jazzical with Joel Martin. In the afternoon and evening, the stage will showcase the talents of the Shana Tucker Trio, Boulevards, and Doyle Bramhall II. The Moore Square Park Stage opens at 2:00 p.m. with Donovan Woods, followed by Irish Mythen, Mo Kenney, and The Stellas.

On Sunday, the Moore Square Park Stage begins at 1:00 pm with Hazelwood, followed by the Way Down Wanderers and Mardi Gras Indian band CHA WA. The City Plaza Main Stage begins at 2:00 p.m. with music by Bronze Radio Return and Samantha Fish. Artsplosure is thrilled to welcome blues legend Sonny Landreth as the finale to the festival’s 37th anniversary.

Kidsplosure opens in Moore Square at 11 a.m. on Saturday with special performances by Meredith College’s Suzuki Violin group, One Tribe Drum Circle and a slew of local young talents from across the Triangle. As always, Moore Square will be filled with crafts and other interactive activities for children to enjoy and learn from!

Moore Square will also be home to the Art Putt miniature golf course and interactive art installation, where visitors can put their way through nine holes of original artwork designed by local artists!