Art in Motion returns to Medicine Hat's First Street Sept. 12
The free downtown festival drew more than 5,000 visitors last year and will again stretch from City Hall to the Medicine Hat Public Library.
Downtown Medicine Hat's First Street will host the annual Art in Motion festival on Sept. 12 from noon to 5 p.m., running from City Hall to the Medicine Hat Public Library. The event features live art demonstrations, hands-on activities, an open-air art market, music, dance, cultural performances, food vendors and programming from local community groups.
Organizers are encouraging families to begin at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre before working their way down First Street. More than 5,000 people attended last year's festival, and organizers are advising visitors to plan ahead for parking, with free lots available at Towne Square, the Transit Parkade, the Old Arena and Athletic Park, plus bicycle parking near Finlay Bridge. Medicine Hat Transit's Park & Ride service will also run from the Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat College and Medicine Hat Mall.
The Medicine Hat Public Library will host a community project called Paint a Bookend for the Library, where visitors can decorate 50 primed metal bookends using supplied paint and markers, with the finished pieces later displayed in the library's stacks. The library lawn will also have giant board games and ping-pong available. The bookend activity is being run in partnership with the Esplanade's Art in Motion and Culture Days programming.
Esplanade cultural programs co-ordinator Jessica Bromley said the festival celebrates the creativity, diversity and community spirit of Medicine Hat, crediting local artists, performers, organizations, vendors and volunteers for making it possible.
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