Downtown Grand Forks & East Grand Forks

The North Valley Arts Council announces the 2015 Grand Cities Art Fest presented this year by Hugo’s Family Marketplace. With twenty percent new artists, this year’s 120 plus visual and performance artists are sure to bedazzle attendee’s with a wide variety of artistic offerings. Grand Cities Art Fest takes place downtown Grand Forks, ND and East Grand Forks, MN along the banks of the scenic Red River of the North, utilizing Grand Forks’ Town Square, the Greenway, and next to South River St in East Grand Forks June 13 (10am to 6pm) and June 14 (10am to 4pm).

GlassblowingThis year’s Featured Artist is Douglas Becker who has over 20 years experience in glass blowing. Becker designs and creates each piece individually, making his work some of the most exciting pieces available to glass lovers and collectors alike. This year’s “Emerging Artist” is Courtney Olson from Crookston, MN. Olson is self taught and paints in acrylics, look for her booth in Town Square. The juried “Best in Category” artists are Jim Ulmer from Frazee, MN.,Ceramics; Tom Soucek from Litchfield, MN., Drawing/Painting; Jon Offutt from Fargo, ND., Glass; Denise Fournier from Fargo, ND., Jewelry; John Tapager from Austin, MN., Metal; Cristina Mari Greenfield from Moorhead, MN., Mixed Media; David Stencel from Fairchild, WI., Naturals; Doug Cummelin from Bloomington, MN., Photography; Parvaneh Eshghieh from Fargo, ND.,Textiles; and Mike Baumann from St. Cloud, MN., Wood. From this selection of artists the top three “Best in Show” will be presented on Sunday at 1:00 pm on the Xcel Stage in Town Square.

From BBQ to Kebob’s and lemonade to smoothies, you’ll find something for every appetite. 19 food vendors will be available to give you the get-up-and-go you’ll need to walk through all the artists booths on both sides of the Red River, or while you stomp your feet along to the many musical offerings scheduled to perform. Fourteen solo and group performances will take place during Art Fest, from jazz to fiddle, it’s sure to please. Plus, the actors from the Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be strolling through the venues entertaining all ages.

There’s plenty of parking and a little something for everyone at this years Grand Cities Art Fest. Grand Cities Art Fest is brought to you by the North Valley Arts Council and additionally sponsored by the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Acme Rents, Alerus Financial, Cabela’s, Convention & Visitors Bureau, FM Radio, Grand Forks Park District, HB Sound & Light, iHeart Media, Leighton Broadcasting, Pepsi, Sterling Optical, Vaaler Insurance, Xcel Energy, and by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the North Dakota Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.