SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival kicked off Friday morning at Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse. Within the first hour, dozens of people had already begun streaming through the various arts and crafts exhibits on display.
The three-day event, which is in its 47th edition, features artists, craftspeople, and entertainers. More than 160 artists representing 25 states and Canada will show off their wares, according to the Downtown Committee of Syracuse.
About 50,000 visitors are expected to shop and browse the exhibits and enjoy a variety of music, multi-cultural performances, summer refreshments, and other activities, says Merike Treier, the Downtown Committee’s executive director.
The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival provides an opportunity for visitors to “experience the vitality of life in downtown Syracuse through a showcase of visual and performing arts that demonstrate diverse art forms and cultures,” the Downtown Committee says on its website. The festival is one of the “premier events” of ArtsWeek.
This free event is partly funded by a grant through New York State Senator John A. DeFrancisco and a Tier Three Project Support Grant through Onondaga County, administered by CNY Arts, as well as by sponsorships, according to the Downtown Committee.
The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday July 29 and Sunday July 30. Friday’s hours were 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com