The third annual Keeseville Community Arts Festival will take place July 21-22, with several local organizations and businesses holding visual and performing arts events across the hamlet. The festival brings local residents and visitors together in celebrating the arts and artistic assets of the community.

At the core of the festival is AdkAction’s annual Plein Air Show and Sale. Forty talented artists from near and far will paint Keeseville’s historic architecture, mountains, bridges, waterfalls and farms in the week leading up to the Festival, producing over 120 paintings. Community members will enjoy seeing the beauty of sights in their own backyards by visiting the Plein Air Art Show and Sale which is being held for the first time at Keeseville’s historic Stone Mill on the Ausable River. A wine and cheese reception on Friday night and a brunch on Saturday morning will give festival goers a chance to meet the artists in person and purchase their artwork. A new ‘Uplifting Community’ challenge will help keep plein air paintings at the festival accessible to all by asking artists to submit one painting priced below $250. In addition to prizes in the juried art show, AdkAction will also award three Emerging Artists Fellowships in an effort to support the next generation of fine arts.

Local plein air artist Dennon Walantus paints the Ausable River

New this year, a Color Run 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run organized by Dynamix Fitness and Wellness will kick off Saturday’s festivities at the Elk’s Club, with a finish line at the popular ‘Arts in the Park’ event in Anderson Falls Park. Artists and artisans local to Keeseville will set up in the park to demonstrate their craft, talk about their work, and sell pottery, jewelry, woodcrafts, and more. Festival goers can enjoy live music by local band Alice’s Fault and food from The Dogfather food truck and Island Vybz.

Free youth art activities include face painting, an outdoor watercolor workshop at the Keeseville Community Garden on Front Street, hoop dance classes by Vestopia Hoops, and a tie dye station that includes a free Keeseville Community Arts Festival shirt. Advance sign-up is recommended for these activities to ensure space and shirt availability. Sign up at www.Adkaction.org/art

Plein Air Painting at the Keeseville Community Garden

Adirondack Architectural Heritage is also offering a free coloring book that will help both children and their families to discover Keeseville’s nearby historic landmarks and create some of their own artwork.

Visitors to the festival can get to know this charming lakeside community at the foothills of the Adirondack mountains and explore the area to try food, beer, and wine from local farms; enjoy live music at several venues; and visit area galleries, florists, antique shops and museums. For a complete guide to all arts and community events happening during the festival visit AdkAction.org/Art.

The Keeseville Community Arts Festival is organized by a team of local volunteers brought together by AdkAction as part of the nonprofit’s community revitalization through the arts project. Over 25 individual and business sponsors have come together to support this year’s festival.