The 2018 Taste of the Arts festival, presented by Wells Fargo, celebrates its 10th anniversary of highlighting the rich diversity of arts and culture experiences in our vibrant community on August 24 from 5-10 PM and August 25 from 11 AM-7 PM, downtown at Arts Campus Fort Wayne (300 E Main Street). This free festival is open to all, providing access to art without cost. Tickets for food and drink can be purchased for $1 each. Proceeds from donations, sponsorships, and food sales help keep admission to the event free and support artistic programming throughout the year.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT TASTE

Friday night festivities begin with the Parrish Leasing Block Party on the Arts United Center Plaza, with food and drink available for purchase by 12 local restaurant and drink vendors. The WBOI Meet the Music Concert begins at 6 PM, with musical performances by Joe Martyn Ricke’s Miracle Machine, Sunny Taylor with the Alicia Pyle Quartet performing a Fleetwood Mac set, Rosalind and the Way, and David Todoran & the Mobile Home Wreckers. At 7 PM, the Arts United Center stage features Metavari, who will provide a live audiovisual electronic music performance. Pyroscope Entertainment, sponsored by the Downtown Improvement District, will light up the night with a fire performance at 10:15 PM on Main Street.

SATURDAY AT TASTE
On Saturday morning, the festival kicks off at 11 AM. Tickets will be on sale to purchase food and drink from 25 restaurants, and over 70 performances of dance, music, and theatre will take place on 9 stages across Arts Campus Fort Wayne. Over 40 organizations will provide kid-friendly, hands-on activities at the NIPSCO STEAM Park in Freimann Square. Artlink’s Art Market will feature 35 artisans and their contemporary crafts and handmade goods. Roaming buskers will be presented by the Downtown Improvement District.

Also be sure to take advantage of other events near the festival, including the YLNI Farmers Market (9 AM-2 PM) at the Barr Street Market, piano painting, free admission to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, the Kekionga Plein Air Paint Out and Art Sale presented by the Fort Wayne Artists Guild with Rhapsody Art Gallery, student exhibitions from FAME and Canterbury Schools inside the Ian Rolland Gallery at the Arts United Center, and free admission and art activities at the History Center.