The East Main Street Art & Music Festival will celebrate its inaugural event from noon to 8 p.m. May 7 at 601 E. Main Street.

Event organizers and sponsors, which include Division Brewing, Mavericks Bar and Grill, Arlington Proud and Create Arlington, say they hope to bring an event to Arlington that will enable artists to be able to make a living by selling their artwork locally.

Arlington Proud partners with the city, local schools, businesses, and residents to inspire change and impact economic and community restructuring and redevelopment. Create Arlington, a division of Arlington Proud, focuses more on creating opportunities for live music, walkability, cultural offerings, etc. to make Arlington a destination for young people to want to live.

In the past Arlington Proud and Create Arlington have hosted pop-up art shows, which are what inspired the establishment of the festival. Organizers say they hope to have 50 showcase booths at the event for glass making, sculpture, performance, and other forms of art.

The festival will include a full day lineup of local musicians, including the Sam Houston Mariachi Band.

"We are making the booth spaces very affordable," event organizer Amanda James said. "We're hoping by having such affordable pricing, artists will be able to showcase and sell their work at an affordable price."

Activities at the festival will include a pop-up dog park, a corn hole tournament, face painting, croquet, ping pong, chess, badminton, street performers and more. A Spoken Word Open Mic Hour is set for 5 p.m. The Arlington Animal Services mobile adoption unit will also be on hand.

The festival will also include brisket tacos, the full menu from Mavericks Bar and Grill and 16 craft beer brews from Division Brewing.

Admittance to the event will be free but there will be a cost for food and beverage. Free off-street parking will be available adjacent to Frost Bank Motor Bank on Abram St.

"We wanted to give local artists the opportunity to not only showcase their work but be able to create income in Arlington through their work," James said. "The only way they're able to do that is through events and avenues like what Create Arlington has been doing."