The 22nd annual Carmel International Arts Festival will take place this weekend in the Carmel Arts & Design District. The event features music on three stages, food and beverage vendors, an interactive children’s area and much more.
The Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29. The event is free and open to the public.
There will also be a street party and concert featuring The Bishops on Saturday night. Co-sponsored by the Carmel International Arts Festival and Current Publishing, ART ROCKS! is a family friendly event from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday that will take place on Main Street and 1st Avenue NE. The event will feature food vendors, Sun King Brewery, and MANCAN wines.
Booths will line Main Street and Range Line Road with artists from all over the nation bringing their juried art for sale. For a full list of artists, visit carmelartsfestival.org/artists.
The Festival will award $7,000 in cash prizes to selected artists. That includes a Best of Show award, Mayor’s Choice award and prizes handed out in specific media categories. The list of media you will find includes 2D, 3D, Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Painting, Photography, and Wood.
In addition to the artist booths, the International Arts Festival will feature these special events:
- High School Student Art Exhibit: Carmel High School and University High School Student Art Show takes place at the Indiana Artisan Gallery located at 22 N. Range Line Road. $12,500 in scholarships will be awarded to students from both schools.
- Children’s Area: Patrons between 2 and 12 can work on an age-appropriate art project at the Young@Art tent. Teachers from the Primrose Schools will work with the children to guide and encourage them as they work on their projects. The young artists will be able to take their creation home with them. Stop by the Young@Art tent on “ARTivity Avenue” on Main Street just west of the Monon Trail.
- Paint by Numbers: Carmel High School Art students have prepared four large “Paint by Numbers” canvases where festival goers young and old can leave their marks. Stop by their tent at Veterans’ Way (across from Muldoon’s restaurant) and see how these paintings come to life over the weekend.
- Guerin Catholic High School Mural: In the Indiana Design Center parking garage, Guerin Catholic High School will paint an 8’ x 22’ mural.
- Digital Art Classes and Virtual Reality: Classes are held inside the Indiana Design Center on the second floor.
Parking
Free parking is available at Carmel High School with a free shuttle service. There is street parking throughout the neighborhoods.
Bike parking (Pedal & Park) will be provided in an area on 2nd Avenue NW between Sophia Square and Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream.
There are underground public parking garages located at the base of Sophia Square (entrance off of 1st Avenue NW, south of 1st Street NW) and at the Indiana Design Center, 200 S. Range Line Road.
There are also free parking garages at Midtown Plaza, a few blocks south, and behind Anthony’s Chophouse on 1st Street SW. Check out the map of the festival at carmelartsfestival.org/map.
Road closures
Effective 4 p.m. Friday through 9 p.m. Sunday, the following streets will be closed:
- Main Street from 3rd Avenue NW/SW to 1st Avenue NE/SE
- Range Line Road from 3rd Street SW/SE to 1st Street NW/NE
For more information and a schedule of events, visit carmelartsfestival.org.