Orange Street ArtsFest is returning to Wilmington Memorial Day weekend
OSAF is one of the largest arts festivals in Downtown Wilmington with more than 80 artists exhibiting oil and watercolor paintings, pottery, jewelry, metal arts, and paper creations.
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Orange Street ArtsFest (OSAF) will return Memorial Day weekend, Saturday May 28th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday May 29th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The celebrated street fair is held on Orange Street between Front and Second Streets, continues Second Street from Orange to Dock Street, and inside the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center.
OSAF is one of the largest arts festivals in Downtown Wilmington with more than 80 artists exhibiting oil and watercolor paintings, pottery, jewelry, metal arts, and paper creations.
The 26th Annual Orange Street ArtsFest is sponsored by WDI and Bring It Downtown, The George on the Riverwalk, WWAY, WHQR, Cumulus Media, WAAV, WGNI, WMNX, WWQQ, and WKXS.
“We are so happy to bring Orange Street ArtsFest back to start the summer season on Memorial Day Weekend for the first time since 2019,” said Susan Habas, Executive Director of Thalian Association Community Theatre. “This is the perfect time to celebrate our wonderful artists, visit the Historic USO Building and explore Downtown Wilmington!”
The festival will be juried by award-winning artist Madison Creech.
Madison Creech holds an MFA in fibers from Arizona State University and a BFA and BS in textile, merchandising, and fashion design from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Currently, she teaches in the Art and Art History Department at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and co-runs Fried Fruit Art Gallery in Wilmington’s cargo district.
Live entertainment and great food will be a highlight of the quaint family friendly festival with culinary delights from Snowy of the Carolinas, Poor Piggys, Mommiez, and North Carolina Sweet Tea.
Festival goers will enjoy music performances featuring artists who perform or teach in the Community Arts Center or with area organizations.
El Jaye Johnson the “One-Man-Band”, acoustic singer and instrumentalist Susan Savia, and Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Youth Artists are scheduled to appear.
The festival will also celebrate young talent with the 2022 Laney High School Spring Ceramics Show & Sale appearing at the OSAF for the first time.
The ceramic creations of fifty 9-12 grade students from the clay club will be displayed in the lobby.
The students are under the instruction of ceramics teacher Kristen Morgan.
Activities for the youngest visitors will be provided Saturday 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm by the Children’s Museum of Wilmington with an interactive playroom inside the building.
The CMOW staff will lead activities featuring fun stations with science experiments, construction with foam building blocks, and the famous arts and crafts station for entire families to enjoy.
The public is invited to tour all the World War II exhibits while visiting the inside artists.
Festival visitors can view the lobby museum of the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center with the wartime exhibits including memorials to Wilmington’s two Medal of Honor recipients.
Thalian Association Community Theatre launched the Orange Street ArtsFest in 1995 to promote the arts in Wilmington and the Community Arts Center (CAC), located in the Historic USO building.
Established in 1788, Thalian Association Community Theatre is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to enhancing the Cape Fear region through live community theatre and arts education.
Thalian Association Community Theatre produces five major productions annually on the Main Stage at historic Thalian Hall and professionally manages the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center for the City of Wilmington.
The youth theatre program offers training and performance opportunities for children aged seven through high school seniors.
In 2007, Thalian Association Community Theatre was designated North Carolina’s Official Community Theater by the state legislature. For more information, go to www.thalian.org.
