Those colorful banners have appeared again. The 5th Annual ArtSwirl, a celebration of art and artists in Northfield, begins next week. This year’s festival features even more events and activities, focused primarily in our historic downtown and concentrated in one very long weekend. The briefest of summaries appears below:
Tuesday, August 5th
8 am – NDDC Forum: Arts and Economic Development Policy Platform – Archer House
Wednesday, August 6th
12:15 pm – Noontime Organ Recital – Skinner Memorial Chapel, Carleton College
7 pm – Books & Stars – Northfield Public Pool
7:30 pm – Summer Sonnets Writers’ Night – Central Park
Thursday, August 7th
12 pm – Japanese Garden Tour – Behind Watson Hall, Carleton College
5-7:30 pm – Chainsaw Sculpture Demonstration – Bridge Square
6-8 pm – ArtSwirl Kick-off – Bridge Square – featuring breakdancing performance, “Edible Art Walk,” and arts & crafts activities for kids
7 pm – Theater in the Park: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Central Park
7:30 pm – Bridge Chamber Music Festival Concert – Urness Hall, St. Olaf College
7:30-9:30 pm – Street Dance Featuring Popular Polka Band, DyVersaCo – Bridge Square
9 pm – Local Music Live in the Pubs
Friday, August 8th
12:15 pm – Noontime Organ Recital – Northfield Methodist Church
6 pm – Northfield Arts Guild Ballet – Pedestrian Bridge over the Cannon River
5-9 pm – Chainsaw Sculpture Demonstration – Bridge Square
7 pm – Theater in the Park: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Central Park
7:30 pm – Storytelling: Real Lives Aloud – Northfield Arts Guild Theater
8 pm – Belly-Dancing Performance by Inara – Chapati
8 pm – Meredith Fierke CD Release – Grand Event Center
9 pm – Local Music Live in the Pubs
Saturday, August 9th
10 am-9 pm – Chainsaw Sculpture Demonstration – Bridge Square
12-6 pm – Artists’ Market – Bridge Square
12-9 pm – Performing Arts on the Showmobile Stage – Bridge Square
6-9 pm – Downtown Gallery and Studio Crawl – Downtown Northfield
7 pm – Theater in the Park: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Central Park
9 pm – Local Music Live in the Pubs
Sunday, August 10th
12-5 pm – Greater Northfield Studio Tour – Surrounding Communities
2 pm – Bridge Chamber Music Festival – Studio A, St. Olaf College
6 pm – Politics and a Pint – a lively discussion of the arts in Northfield – Contented Cow
As you can see, there’s a lot to choose from in this festival. So come on down(town) and all around Northfield and enjoy ArtSwirl.