Help us celebrate the Arts Picnic’s 40th birthday!
Join us on Saturday July 28 and Sunday July 29, 2018
Since its beginning in 1979, the Arts Picnic’s mission has held steadfast…creating a venue for artists and crafters to sell their handmade wares, showcasing local performers’ talents, and offering hands-on arts and musical activities for kids. Because of the Arts Picnic’s solid foundation built by dedicated citizens well versed in the importance of a healthy arts community, this much-anticipated summertime festival is still going strong. Arts Picnic has grown from 2,000 visitors its first year to welcoming over 20,000 to the same tree-filled park where it began. It is now a nationally known event accepting over 150 artists’ and crafters’ applications from all over the United States selling everything from pottery and paintings, soap to sculptures and gourmet food to garden art! Shoppers can grab a cool one in the beer garden or enjoy mouth-watering cuisine from around the world in the food court including French, Greek, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Italian, plus good old American BBQ. Some of the best Colorado talent is featured on two stages throughout the weekend while stilt walkers, balloon twisters, magicians, and a circus troupe roam through the park. Creation Station is perfect for all the mini-Monets and pint-size Picassos where they can let their imaginations run free with make ‘n take arts and crafts projects. So put on your birthday hat and celebrate 40 years of fun starting with a kick-off concert on Friday evening July 27 at 7pm on the 9th Street Plaza followed by the weekend festival across the street in historic Lincoln Park!
2018 Dates and Location
Lincoln Park
802 10th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Saturday, July 28 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, July 29 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Kickoff Concert
9th Street Plaza
Friday, July 27 at 7:00 pm
Help us kick off the Arts Picnic with a free concert on the 9th Street Plaza by Colorado's favorite dance band FUNKIPHINO! Grab your picnic basket and blanket and head downtown for a night of terrific music under the stars. Don’t forget to wear your dancin’ shoes! There will be free popcorn, buskers galore and lots of family fun. You can also take advantage of downtown's Go Cup entertainment area!
Arts & Crafts
Looking for a beautiful bracelet, perfect piece of pottery, or wonderful watercolor? Grab your hat, sunscreen, and shopping bag and head to the Arts Picnic where you’ll find high quality one-of-a-kind handmade arts and crafts.
Non-Profit Arts Organization Booths
Each year Arts Picnic reserves five booth spaces for non-profit arts organizations to distribute information and/or sell items benefiting their group.
Entertainment
In addition to entertainers roving through the park all weekend, the two Arts Picnic stages will feature 20 of the best Colorado entertainers performing everything from Celtic rock to country swing and rhythm and blues to rock ‘n roll.
Creation Station Kids' Hands-On Area
Our creation station is perfect for your mini-Monets and pint-size Picassos where they can let their imaginations run free creating a make’n’take craft project, getting their faces painted, designing an art badge, and playing a musical instrument.
Food Court and Beer Garden
Our Food Court is sure to please everyone’s palate with over a dozen booths full of delicious delights from around the world including gyros, burritos, crepes and calzones, plus mouthwatering BBQ!
Take a break from shopping and stop by the Beer Garden hosted by the Greeley Chamber Orchestra to savor a cold one while enjoying the Center Stage music!
Make sure you have your valid ID on hand for the beer garden!
Arts Picnic Fine Art Exhibit (Tointon Gallery)
The Arts Picnic Fine Art Exhibit provides Weld County artists the opportunity to display their creations for family, friends and for the community to enjoy. Weld County artists of all ages are welcome to submit an application to exhibit one piece of artwork in the Tointon Gallery, 651 10th Ave., from July 27 through August 25.
Getting to the Arts Picnic. Come by bus, bike, car, or on foot!
Park & Ride to the Arts Picnic!
Take the free shuttle provided by Greeley Evans Transit. The bus (Wheelchair access!) will board from the GET Regional Transportation Center located at 101 11th Avenue using the #8 bus shelter. Shuttle parking is available in the GET Center lot as well
as the County Parking lot on the corner of 11th Avenue & A Street. You’ll be conveniently dropped off on 10th Avenue across the street from Lincoln Park where the festival takes place! The shuttle will run from both stops approximately every
10 minutes.
Shuttle Schedule
- Saturday, July 28: 9:00am-5:00pm
- Sunday, July 29: 10:00am-4:00pm
Ride your bike
Looking for a place to park your ride and avoid the challenge of downtown parking? Greeley Bikes in partnership with Aunt Helen’s Coffee Shop and the Poudre River Trail will be offering FREE bike parking during the Arts Picnic. Enjoy your ride to downtown Lincoln Park and we will watch over your favorite wheels while you enjoy the festivities. The bike corral will be located in front of the UCCC on the west side of Lincoln Park during festival hours. Saturday 9-5p.m. and Sunday 10-4p.m.
If you have interest in meeting other two wheeled friends and supporting Greeley’s bike culture please sign up to volunteer: https://bit.ly/2KtP6lq
Bike racks are also available In Lincoln Park by the playground and on the west side of the park by the sculpture.
Parking at the Festival
There are at least 1,600 available parking spaces well within walking distance to the Arts Picnic in Lincoln Park including the Weld County parking lots on 10th St. & 11th St. Downtown permit parking ends Friday at 5pm and doesn’t resume until 7am Monday morning!