Escape for a 2 Hour Vacation to the Golden Fine Arts Festival

Golden, Colo. — June 2009 — Come browse a variety of beautiful art at Colorado’s most accessible arts festival, the 19th annual Golden Fine Arts Festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 and Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, on 11th Street just west of Washington Avenue in historic downtown Golden.

The juried festival is an open-air art gallery in a gorgeous foothills setting adjacent to the Clear Creek. More than 35,000 people are expected to attend again this year since the Golden Fine Arts Festival is well-known for its quality, affordability, ambiance and proximity to the metro area.  Hosting 140 high-quality artists, 80 percent of whom are Coloradan and many from as far away as both U.S. coasts, the Festival features a variety of media, including ceramic arts, fiber arts, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture.                                                               

There is no admission fee to come enjoy the Festival, which as always, includes free horse-drawn carriage rides through historic downtown Golden, free live musical entertainment, artists’ demonstrations, and a special hands-on Kids Art Zone operated by ArtReach that is always a hit with younger art patrons. In addition, many other coinciding art-filled events and activities are offered throughout the weekend at galleries and merchants in downtown Golden, just a block from the Festival.  Golden’s Clear Creek History Park, located alongside the Fine Arts Festival will be free throughout the weekend with blacksmith and pioneer cooking demonstrations.

Prizes will be awarded to artists in eight categories and cash awards total more than $1,800.  

Evergreen artist Jennifer O’Meara was chosen by the judges of the 2008 Fine Arts Festival as first place in mixed media and was commissioned to produce the featured artwork for the 2009 festival.  As such, her Red Dairy Barn is the original piece reproduced for the 2009 Golden Fine Arts Festival poster and the poster can be purchased for $20 at the festival.

For more information and updates about the Golden Fine Arts Festival and other activities in Golden, visit the Festival’s web site at www.GoldenFineArtsFestival.org or Golden’s visitor web site at www.2HourVacation.com throughout the year.