Fairfax to hold its 5th ‘art walk’ event

Fairfax is planning its fifth “art walk” festival on Sept. 27.

The free downtown event from 5 to 9 p.m. will include visual arts, music, dance, poetry and a scavenger hunt.

“The event provides many opportunities for Fairfax to showcase local artists, for merchants to boost their downtown business sales and for town residents to enjoy a festive night downtown,” said Anne Mannes, the town’s recreation and community services manager. “This is an evening that I see everyone really enjoying. It is a real coming together to celebrate what makes Fairfax unique and wonderful.”

Mannes said the event highlights the town’s artists-in-residence program while elevating other local talent.

The event was founded by the artists-in-residence collective in 2018, about the time when the program was expanded from a single person to three artists. The event had postponements during the pandemic.

“The intention of expanding the program from one artist in residence to three artists in residence working collaboratively together was to inspire more energy and group creative projects for the town,” Mannes said.

The artists in residence are photographer Stephanie Mohan, painter Sharon Virtue and Susan Pascal Beran, a sculptor and designer.

“People are really excited that we’re doing this again,” Mohan said. “Fairfax is known for being a creative, quirky and fun town, and this event highlights this through both the merchants and artists. That’s what makes this town so wonderful.”

Pescal Beran said the event is a uniquely Fairfax festival with fun for all ages.

“The entire downtown is turned into a delightful scavenger hunt, which takes participants from merchant to merchant to discover the richness that is Fairfax with a celebration of local creatives, including musicians, writers, two-dimensional and three-dimensional artists,” she said. “It is a magical event with fun surprises and a party in every store.”

The artists in residence are appointed by the Town Council. They get an annual stipend of $1,500 and studio space in the Pavilion loft to collaborate on projects.

Other events founded by the group include a spring craft fair, the summer concert series and the upcoming mural project at the Parkade.

“I would love to see everyone come down and enjoy the art and the scavenger hunt,” said Mayor Barbara Coler. “We have our artist collaborative to thank for putting it on.”