For two full days, the 24th Annual ArtFest of Scottsdale brings the best of the artists’ community to the Valley of the Sun. On November 18th and 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza bustles with more than 180 fine artists selling their masterpieces, local musicians and food vendors representing a variety of cultural tastes.
“I am proud to continue the tradition my father Frank Maguire started more than 40 years ago,” says Andrew Maguire who serves as ArtFest’s owner and organizer. “We hope to continue to introduce amazing art to the community and get people interested in art again.”
In order to participate in ArtFest of Scottsdale, the artist vendors must first go through a jury process by a panel of peers, a board which is comprised of ASU graduates with degrees in Art, members that have participated in ArtFest and other artists’ festivals for an extensive period of time, and Andrew’s father Frank sits of the board as well.
Just in time for holiday gift-giving season, ArtFest of Scottsdale features fine arts in a variety of mediums such as metal, paint, clay and glass, as well as crafts and wares including jewelers and sculptors. Two stages feature live music from artists such as Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee and local music legend Walt Richardson, among other musicians representing genres such as jazz, country and rock and roll. ArtFest also encompasses an interactive kids’ zone, local non-profit book sale and other local community organizations such as Creciendo Unidos and the Boys and Girls Club that help with the event.
Located at Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza at 75th St. and Indian School Road, ArtFest of Scottsdale offers free parking and free admission. Dogs are welcome. For more, visit www.888artfest.com.
A passionate supporter of the arts, Frank Maguire established Frank Maguire & Associates, an event consulting business, more than 40 years ago to bring fine art festivals to cities across the country. Locally, Frank initially started Tempe Festival of the Arts on Mill Avenue in Tempe, and brought the event to Scottsdale 24 years ago with the intent to offer residents exposure to fine artists in a vibrant, entertaining, and beautiful atmosphere centered the local community.
