Fifth Annual Holiday Arts and Music Festival Held at Mesa Arts Center, 12/12 & 12/13

On Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., thousands of music lovers and holiday shoppers will converge on the Mesa Arts Center campus as it transforms into a free holiday festival of the arts.

The Fifth Annual Holiday Art & Music Festival will feature original works of art for sale by nearly 75 local and national artists in 13 mediums, live entertainment on two stages, artist demonstrations in metals and ceramics, children's activities, a variety of food from featured local restaurants, a beer garden, free entry to Mesa Contemporary Arts, and more. The festival is free to the public and there is ample free parking. In addition to the artisan booths along the Shadow Walk, The Store at Mesa Arts Center has a variety of unique and affordable gifts for the holiday season.

Avoid lines at crowded shopping centers and do your holiday shopping outdoors on the beautiful Mesa Arts Center campus. The event will feature original works of art for sale by such artists as Lisa Harnish/Chandler, ceramics; Dolly Ahles/Mesa, glass; and jewelry artists Victoria Altepeter/Gatlinburg, TN, Kevin O'Grady/Scottsdale, and Aline Sar/San Francisco.

Featured on the two live entertainment stages will be: Brian DeMarco with a mixture of acoustic, roots, and Indie music; Shelby James with great picking, lilting melodies, and consistent first rate lyrics; Walt Richardson, a local favorite who mixes folk, rock, and reggae; Steele String Assassins, two guys who weave a mixture of acoustic jams; The Bad Cactus Brass Band, New Orlean's Second Line Street Jazz Band based in Phoenix; Surf Side IV, four local guys playing instrumental surf rock; Triple Double Band, this band fuses a vivid collection of styles in a highly energetic performance; ELIXIR, covering old school R&B, Motown, Smooth Jazz, and funk; Novo Mundo, combining music from Brazil and Cuba seasoned with a jazz flavor; and Tobie Milford, Indie folk.

Children's activities include face painting, mask-making and holiday ornament-making sponsored by East Valley Children's Theatre, caricatures, Santa Claus, and more.

Come to Mesa Arts Center to kick off the holiday season at this fun-filled community festival. For more information, visit www.measartscenter.com.

Mesa Arts Center has received numerous awards and accolades for its programs and outstanding new facilities. Arizona's largest arts campus is home to four theaters, five art galleries and fourteen art studios. Guests, patrons, and students come to Mesa Arts Center to enjoy the finest live entertainment and performances, world-class visual art exhibitions, and outstanding arts education classes. The facility is an architectural showpiece and a destination for visitors to the Phoenix area. The Mesa Arts Center mission is to inspire people through impacting and engaging experiences that are diverse, accessible, and relevant; and that enhance the quality of life and vitality of the region. For more information, visit www.mesaartscenter.com. One East Main Street | Mesa | 480-644-6500

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