What to eat, watch and see at the Paseo Arts Festival

If you’re not driving hours to drink Coors Lite on a man-made Oklahoma lake this Memorial Day weekend – and it’s okay if you are – don’t forget to hit up the 46^th annual Paseo Arts Festival happening pretty much all weekend long. 

A long-time OKC counter-culture Memorial Day weekend tradition, it’s the Pepsi to the Festival of The Arts’ Coke. If you’ve never been, here’s a quick little guide on what to eat, watch and see.

1.)   Food

Trying to process the meaning of art can make uncultured swine like myself hungry. 

Sauced has upgraded and now has a great breakfast deal consisting of a breakfast pizza slice and coffee for $5. If pizza and coffee isn’t your thing, go to the food court located in the center of the festival and try the Oh My Gogi Fries or get messy with a sno cone from Sasquatch Shaved Ice melting and spilling down the front of your shirt.

2.)  Art

Over 90 artists are flocking to the Paseo this year selling anything from fiber art, 3D mixed media, sculptures, and many more mediums! Two of my favorites from last year that are returning are Deadwax Art for music lovers and Ovcharov Art Studio for those buyers of pieces that stand out from the norm.

3.)  Live Performances 

There are over 50 live performers this year, spanning many genres on two stages, so let me choose for you. Start your Saturday at the fest listening to some iambic pentameter with Red Dirt Poetry at 5pm and then end the night with beats brought to you by Original Flow & The Wavves at 10pm. Make sure to check out the up and coming local band Chelsea Days on Sunday at 8:45pm and the local veteran pro Edgar Cruz & The Brave Amigos on Monday at 5pm.

4.)  Paseo Market Festival 

Located at the south end near Frida’s and Paseo Grill is the market independent of the Paseo Arts Festival but is a nice change of pace for those who want an affordable local takeaway from the weekend’s festivities. Find anything from clothing, CBD infused items, local mild salsas, and more!

5.)  Paseo Shops

It can get hot during the festival so make sure to pop into the local galleries and shops bordering the festival to enjoy a much-needed reprieve from Oklahoma’s humid and unforgiving May sun. Fight for cool air in Bonedust, JRB Art on the Elms, Literati Press, or Paseo Gallery 1.

For a full list of artists and performers at the Paseo Arts Festival and its history visit www.thepaseo.org/festival to learn more.