Valparaiso Art Festival

Be inspired in the heart of downtown Valparaiso at the Third Annual Valparaiso Art Festival, held Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hosted by Valparaiso Events and produced by Amdur Productions – a nationally acclaimed arts festival production company – the Valparaiso Art Festival features over seventy-five juried artists who specialize in various mediums - photography, painting, pottery, metalworking, stained glass, wood working, jewelry-making, and more.

Delight in live artist demos, a graffiti wall, and live entertainment throughout the weekend. Create with your little ones at the kid’s art station featuring Fourth of July related art activities. And be sure to visit the local Valparaiso artists participating in the festival – Dave Lee and Maria Overlay. Dave Lee, a renown glass blower, is owner of Hot Shop Valpo; and Maria Overlay specializes in nature and fine art photography. For more local artist items, be sure to visit Art Z & Co. They represent over 35 artists from Northwest Indiana.

After you find the perfect piece of art to add to your home, head right next door to the Valpo Farmers Market in Central Park Plaza for fresh local produce, handmade products, and beautiful plants and flowers. For more art fun – visit the Porter County Public Library to locate the first stop for the Birds of Paradise Sculpture Scavenger Hunt. On this scavenger hunt, spy ten indigenous birds located throughout downtown Valpo, each a unique piece of local art.

While exploring downtown, be sure to enjoy its unique collection of retailers and

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE: Glass-blown art from Dave Lee of Hot Shop Valpo. Live painting demonstration by Tracy Tauber Fine Art (Rensselaer, IN) at the Valparaiso Art Festival. Birds of Paradise Sculpture Scavenger Hunt artwork by Valparaiso artist Chad Copeland. Valpo Art Fest goers enjoy stained-glass pieces by artists Ryan Matway and Sandra Boonberg (Lantana, FL). restaurants. With over forty shops, theatres, and salons and more than thirty restaurants, bars and cafes, there is something for everyone in the heart of Valparaiso.

Perk up with coffee from Fluid Coffee Bar or Blackbird Café. Discover one-of-akind gifts at Indie Indie Bang! Bang!, Lifestyles, and Sheep’s Clothing. Pick up something special for your favorite fourlegged friend at Hungry Hound Boutique & Grooming and something for yourself at Old World Market – the premier cheese and specialty food shop in Northwest Indiana. Venture just outside of downtown for more great finds, including Martin Binder Jeweler, Nature’s Remedies and Extra Mile Fitness Company.

Savor a delicious meal at Main + Lincoln or Peddlers Pizza Pub and then a sweet treat at Designer Desserts or Valpo Velvet (a Valparaiso favorite for over seventy years!). Enjoy handcrafted mead from Misbeehavin’ Meads and wrap up the day with good company and libations at LambStone Cellars Winery and Elements Wine Bar.

Make a weekend of your trip to Valpo with a stay at the Valparaiso Inn Bed & Breakfast, which is just a short threeblock walk from downtown, or Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, located next to Valparaiso University.

For more information on the Valparaiso Art Festival, downtown Valpo, and a complete retail and restaurant directory, visit valparaisoevents.com.