By Kathleen Hughes
Jason Napier, a perennial favorite artist at La Quinta Arts Festival, is on his way from Friday Harbor, Washington with a real bronze beauty in tow named “Stir’d UP.” The life-size stallion is a sight to behold standing at 7 foot tall, 14 feet long, and weighing in at 1,200 pounds! Stir’d UP will be given prime placement at La Quinta Arts Festival this year, along with the rest of Napier’s growing menagerie of incredible bronze wild life sculpture in Booth #122 just inside the Main Gate.
La Quinta Arts Festival, the #1 Fine Art Festival in the Nation for three consecutive years, returns to the La Quinta Civic Center Campus Thursday through Sunday, March 5-8, 2015. Delight in viewing the spectacular artwork of 220 talented artists in every fine art and craft category arriving from 38 States, Israel, Canada and Nicaragua for this event!
Come for the art – stay for the entertainment! La Quinta Arts Festival is a total sensory experience and just as you will see every art medium imaginable, you will delight in the variety of music entertainment too! This year’s lineup is takes you on a trip around the world starting with smooth flamenco guitar stylings of Milton Merlos, meditative Bolivian Pan Pipes by master Oscar Reynolds, and favorites Jerry Evaro and Friends will have you swinging and singing. For those classically inclined, a new alliance with CV organization OperaArts brings Operetta and Broadway from some amazing talent. Just when you thought your entertainment journey was over, make one last stop on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm to salsa, merengue and cha-cha to the Louie Cruz Beltran Latin jazz band.
Festival goers will enjoy great cuisine and beverage selections on Restaurant Row featuring Fisherman’s Market & Grill and West Coast Hofbrau, plus lighter fare and libations at the Island Bar. Try the Oasis Lounge catered by Shanghai Reds for Asian specialties in the NE corner. The Chocolate Bar by Brandini Toffee will have two locations this year – at the Meadow Bar and in Restaurant Row.
La Quinta Arts Festival hours are 10 am to 5 pm each day. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or in advance online at www.LQAF.com. Ticket prices are: Adults $17 or $22 for a four day pass. Children under 12 are free. Patrons may take advantage of valet parking $10, self-parking $7, or free parking in designated areas throughout the Village of La Quinta.
La Quinta Arts Festival is presented by La Quinta Arts Foundation in partnership with Premier Sponsor The City of La Quinta. La Quinta Civic Center Campus is located at 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA. Directions: From I-10 or Hwy 111, take Washington St. south to Calle Tampico. More info at LQAF.com or 760-564-1244.
