Cadillac's Festival of the Arts

July 9, 2015

Painting, pottery, sculpture, glassworks, fiber craft, music, food and fun. If you’re looking to find all this in one place, you can’t go wrong with Cadillac’s Festival of the Arts and the 2015 Phyllis Olson Art Fair.

THE ART

Named in honor of the late Phyllis Olson, a dedicated worker for the Cadillac Area Artists’ Association for more than 40 years, the fair is held in the Cadillac City Park adjacent to beautiful Lake Cadillac. Nearly 100 artists’ booths comprise this colorful event, from fine art painters in watercolors and oils to jewelry-makers, photographers and more unusual artistic pursuits like garden flowers made from metal forks and spoons. Don’t miss the remarkable work of Dan Heffron, sculptor/wood carver; his themed “Poseidon’s Paradise” series features animals rendered with incredible detail, including an iguana that looks like it’s going to scuttle right across his display table.

THE EATS

A selection of nonprofit groups including local churches, clubs, lodges and scouts team up to organize the food offerings for the event — the Taste of Cadillac. This is American summer food at its most simple, inexpensive and delicious, from burgers and brats on the grill to secret recipe chili. It’s all served up fresh, with plenty of neighborly smiles to go around, and the proceeds benefit the community.

THE BEATS

Concerts at Cadillac’s pavilion are another big part of the arts fest and, this year, they’ve got a triple threat of featured performers. You’ll hear old jazz and traditional tunes from 13-year-old aspiring folk singer Magdalen Fossum of Ann Arbor; countryblues fusion music from the self-proclaimed “chick band” powerhouse Stella! (combining Jen Sygit and Laura Bates from the Earthwork Music Group with Detroit songwriter Jo Serrapere); and the always-popular Petoskey Steel Drum Band, ready to perform more of their jaunty island-inspired tunes.

MORE TREATS

Sauntering around the festival is sure to bring even more treats for the eyes and ears. Jugglers and puppeteers can be seen wandering between the booths and picnic tables, and a special dessert tent will offer sweets to follow those burgers. Avid readers will enjoy the Friends of the Library book sale, which will run both Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss the weekend’s final musical performance by The Ancient and Honorable Clam Lake Dock and Dredge Marching and Chowder Society Silver Cornet Band (yes, that’s their official full name), a local group with an obvious sense of fun that performs great spot-on covers of pop music, movie themes and traditional marches.

The 48th Cadillac Festival of the Arts will take place July 17-18. For specific event locations and times, visit webdev.cadillacartists.org.