While some festivals begin to show their age after a few years, the third annual East Main Arts Festival is just getting started.
Saturday's event in Downtown Arlington featured 96 vendors - 11 more than last year - selling of all kinds of art from booths lining both sides of the East Main Street. The musical portion of Arlington Proud's festival grew by even larger numbers.
"Last year we hosted 20 bands on three stages. This year we had 34 bands on six stages and three of those stages were indoor," said event organizer Amanda James. "More than 4,000 visitors came last year to experience both the art vendors and all that East Main Street has to offer. This year, we're on track to break that attendance record."
Attendees of all ages strolled up and down East Main Street where they could sample food from local vendors and have drinks from East Main Street businesses like the Division Brewing, Urban Alchemy Wine and Coffee Bar and Mavericks Bar & Grill - all while looking at great art and listening to local bands.
Arlington residents Kim and Sam Buchmeyer attended the festival with friends Michael McArthur of Arlington and Kathy Baker of Frisco with one goal, to hear local bands live.
"This is our first year to attend the festival, and we absolutely love the music. These are local, real artists. We love coming out to support them."
The festival drew not just Arlington residents but also folks that were a long way from home. Mark and Pennie Newsom are traveling across the country in their RV and are spending a couple of days in Mansfield to visit a friend. They like to attend art and music festivals and even compared the East Main Arts Festival to another well-known festival a bit west of here.
"We've been to the Fort Worth Main Street Festival, but I think there are more paintings here," said Mark Newsom. "There's definitely more of a local vibe."
Local musicians, local businesses, and local art vendors all supporting a local cause, Arlington Proud, a non-profit dedicated to art in Arlington, made the event feel, well, very local. And that's the big draw for not only the attendees, but also for the vendors that are the heartbeat of the event.
"I saw a sign in one of the neighborhoods about the event, so I called the City to find out more information and to get registered," said first-time vendor and Arlington resident Sherrie Ann Pierce. "Everyone's so friendly on staff and the other vendors as well. This event is such a great way to hook up artists in the community with the community itself."
After successfully selling some of her original paintings and prints, Pierce said "I definitely plan to be back next year."
Downtown Arlington
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