EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow Cultural Council will host its third annual Arts and Brew Festival on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Brew Practitioners Brewery and Taproom on Baldwin St.
Hosted from 12-5 p.m., the festival will offer opportunities to view local art, listen to live music from acoustic band Baird Souls and Feeding Hills-based group Richie Mitnick Music, meet authors from the region and try food from a variety of food trucks, Cultural Council member Jane Riley told Reminder Publishing.
Available food trucks will be Jennie’s Weenies, SMOKD, Fellowship Café and Latest Kraez. There is no rain date for the event.
Entertainment for children will also be available throughout the entire event, including a juggler, stilt walker, magician and balloon artist. There is no cost for residents, Riley said.
In addition, watercolorist Andrea Mackin will be conducting a live watercolor demonstration over the course of an hour at the event. While painting, Mackin will explain different techniques and color-mixing strategies. Mackin is a watercolor instructor at Springfield Museums, Riley stated. She previously performed a demonstration at the first Arts and Brew Festival.
This year, the Arts and Brew Festival is funded by the town of East Longmeadow, which provided a “very generous” grant, according to Riley. In its first two years, the event was supported through a grant from the Mass Cultural Council. It took place at Brew Practitioners Brewery during the first year and at Center Field for the second year. This second event was canceled due to rain, leading the council to lose access to all of the funds already spent toward the event, Riley explained.
The upcoming Aug. 24 event is expected to draw “several hundred” residents, Riley said. She emphasized that the council had worked to make the festival “family-friendly” while celebrating local art and displaying the offerings sponsored by the East Longmeadow Cultural Council.
“Everything’s falling into place really nicely,” Riley said while speaking at the Aug. 13 Town Council meeting. “As long as the weather cooperates, we’re good.” The Town Council officially approved the Cultural Council’s request for a one-day entertainment license at this meeting.
Each year, the East Longmeadow Cultural Council receives and distributes funds from the Mass Cultural Council to support organizations and residents within art, science and humanity-based community programs, the council stated.
In fiscal year 2024, this support included funds for local events such as the Artsy Fartsy Artists and Authors Fair, East Longmeadow Summer Concert Series, Springfield Symphony Orchestra Musical Petting Zoo, and East Longmeadow 4th of July Parade, according to the Mass Cultural Council. The council also supports programs sponsored by East Longmeadow High School, East Longmeadow Public Library, Pleasant View Senior Center and the Rotary Club of East Longmeadow.For more information about the East Longmeadow Cultural Council, visit eastlongmeadowma.gov/266/Cultural-Council.
