Greeley Arts Picnic: All-in-one Entertainment
Holly Graham
The Greeley Arts Picnic will celebrate its 38th year on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 in Greeley’s historic Lincoln Park. Truly a gem of Northern Colorado, the Arts Picnic brings together community, fine art, crafts, music, beer, food and fun- something for everyone!
Boasting more than 150 booths, patrons travel from Wyoming, Nebraska and all over Colorado to view and purchase the art. The handmade beauty of the Arts Picnic draws new artists every year and keeps other artists coming back.
For Courtney Archibeque, the Greeley Arts Picnic was a summer staple of childhood.
“All the colors, the smells- it’s always been a great environment and I love how they have the kid’s area where kids can create things while mom is shopping.” Archibeque said.
This year, she will return to the Arts Picnic, not as an attendee, but as an artist herself.
“I loved going and seeing all of the [art] and I decided I want to be a part of it this year.”
In February, Archibeque started her own business, Beque Lighting Design, to build and sell artistic, re-imagined lighting fixtures as a creative outlet.
“I am beyond excited to be selling my re-imagined lighting at the picnic,” Archibeque says on her website, “I grew up going to the Arts Picnic every year and it was a highlight of the summer! It is a childhood dream come true to be selling my very own crafts there!”
Rick Morris and his wife, Marilyn, are annual visitors to the Greeley Arts Picnic.
“I’ve been going for decades,” Morris said. ”I wouldn’t say I’ve been to every one, but I would say 90 percent. The thing I buy most is soap,” Morris said. “I never have liked brands like Dial or Irish Spring, so every year I buy my year’s supply of homemade soap.”
The couple enjoys everything the picnic has to offer, especially the music, food and attending the kickoff concert put on in recent years by the band, Funkiphino.
“There are always regional bands. They have folk, a local service club band and marches and show tunes. Elvis Presley plays every year; the guy has the look- he has the swag. They even have a belly dancer,” Morris said. “Every year I get a nice sandwich from a friend with a sandwich stand and sometimes I’ll go both days and get two sandwiches!”
Morris and his wife enjoy browsing the art stands and trying new things. They bought a pitcher from a potter one year just to pour pancake mix onto a griddle and he described coasters made of 45 rpm records.
The Arts Picnic is not only an art show, not only a craft show, not only a concert or a kid’s tent, but everything. The Greeley Arts Picnic is unique because it encompasses anything an attendee might look for to enjoy his or her weekend.
Dan Franz, founder and conductor of the Greeley Chamber Orchestra, is trading in his baton for beer at the Arts Picnic beer garden. Franz has run a beverage booth alongside other orchestra members at the Arts Picnic for nearly 15 years.
What originally started out as the sale of iced tea has progressed into the retail of beer, hard lemonade, and water for event attendees to purchase and enjoy.
“This is a good gig for us,” said Franz. “We get to see friends of the orchestra and on a hot day, who doesn’t like a cold drink and to sit and listen to music?”
In exchange for their hard work, all of the proceeds earned from beverage sales go directly to the orchestra.
“People come from all over Northern Colorado and it’s a good way for the community to come together and support the community and artists,” Franz said.
The Greeley Arts Picnic is a celebration of creativity and ideas that bring artists and patrons joy. It is a way for people to do what they love, make a dime and share their passion with others who might share the same love for art, community and life.
The festivities begin with a kickoff concert at 9th St Plaza on Friday, July 29 at 7:00 pm then continue on Saturday, July 30 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm and Sunday, July 31 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm at 802 10th Avenue, Greeley, CO.