Artsfest 2019 guide: When and where, what’s new, schedule, parking in Harrisburg

The Artsfest of Greater Harrisburg returns once more this Memorial Day weekend to fill Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park with all manner of artisans, crafts, food, music and much more.

Here’s a quick guide on what you need to know and what you can expect to see if you plan on attending this year’s event.

Note: PennLive is a title sponsor of Artsfest.

When and where is Artsfest?

The 25th annual Artsfest of Greater Harrisburg runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 25-26 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27 at Riverfront Park, Harrisburg. It spans about 10 city blocks along Front Street, roughly between Market and Forster streets. The event will be held rain or shine.

Keep in mind that no pets or bikes will be allowed in Riverfront Park during festival hours.

NOTE: That area of Front Street will be closed starting at 9 a.m. Friday, May 24, so exhibitors and organizers can set up for the festival

What will be at this year’s Artsfest?

About 200 juried artists and craftsmen from across the United States and Canada will be selling their wares at this year’s show. Handcrafted work will be available in sixteen different categories, including ceramics, furniture, glass, jewelry, mixed media and sculpture.

In addition, the mini-festival within a festival, HBGFest, is returning for its third year, and will feature more than 55 local artists under one tent, located on Front Street, between Forster and North streets. You can see a full list of HBGFest artists here.

New this year is a collaborative mural project, located at booths 143-153. Visitors there can help work on the mural, which will eventually grace the walls of the Adolescent Unit at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Harrisburg.

Where can I park?

Parking is available for $5 on City Island from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday and 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Street parking will be available for free on Sunday and Monday.

What can we eat?

For the first time, Farm Show milkshakes will be available at Artsfest – at a booth at the Walnut Street Plaza. Besides that the usual plethora of food vendors will be on hand selling everything from crab cakes to kettle corn to crepes. For a full list of food vendors and their locations, click here.

Also returning this year is the Beerfest, which will be held at the Civic Club Garden, 612 N. Front St. The event will feature craft beer courtesy of Ever Grain Brewing and wines from Grandview Vineyard. The restaurant Rubicon will serve oysters and mixed drinks. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and noon to 4 p.m. Monday.

Musical performances

As usual, a wealth of musical acts will be gracing the stage at Kunkel Plaza during the festival. The list of performers is as follows:

Saturday, May 25

• 10 a.m. -- Dandy
• 11 a.m. -- Bumbada Women Drummers
• Noon -- Central Pennsylvania Suzuki Association
• 1 p.m. -- Troupe Hayati Belly Dance
• 2 p.m. -- Lower Dauphin High School Big Band Jazz Band
• 3 p.m. -- Rascal Revival
• 4 p.m. -- AMFM: Andy Mowatt’s Frequency Movement
• 5 p.m. -- GOBBO
• 6 p.m. -- Beatles Brigade

Sunday, May 26

• 10 a.m. -- Batida
• 11 a.m. -- Shine Delphi
• Noon -- Pine Street Church Chancel Choir
• 1 p.m. -- the Dark Matter Trio
• 2 p.m. -- Winter Parks
• 3 p.m. -- The Mighty River Band
• 4 p.m. -- Lyncs
• 5 p.m. -- Rod Goelz Project
• 6 p.m. -- Ben Brandt Trio

Monday, May 27

• 10 a.m. -- Annie Elise
• 11 a.m. -- III For The Road
• Noon -- Shrimp Band
• 1 p.m. -- Sol Ryder
• 2 p.m. -- Madison Ryan
• 3 p.m. -- The Real Things
• 4 p.m. -- The Jellybricks

Jazzfest

Located at Pine Street near the Pride of the Susquehanna sign, Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz will host three days of concerts featuring some of the best jazz musicians in the central Pennsylvania area. Performers include the Mark Ryan Quartet, the Central Pa. Friends of Jazz Youth Band and the Gavin Horning Trio. For a complete schedule, visit the Friends’ website.

Will there be a film festival?

Indeed there will be. Moviate will once again host its annual Underground Film Festival throughout the weekend. Highlights include “Boiled Angels: The Trial of Mike Diana," a documentary about the first U.S. artist convicted of obscenity (8 p.m. May 24 at the Midtown Cinema); and a screening of the 1996 indie film ″Welcome to the Dollhouse," presented in-person by director Todd Solondz with a Q&A session afterward (7:30 p.m. May 25 at Midtown Cinema).

In addition a number of experimental and short subject films will be shown throughout the weekend. Screenings will be held at the Civic Club, 612 N. Front St., Harrisburg, and at the Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. All screenings are free and open to the public. Head to Moviate’s website to see the full schedule.

Will there be children’s activities?

Gamut Theater will once again present KidsFest, located at the far end of Artsfest, near the Market Street walking bridge. The Popcorn Hat Players will perform there every hour from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There will also be food, toys, games, and art projects with a child-friendly focus. Vendors include Sandy Candy, Tuna Belly Bows and Whimsical Werkz.