Art in the Park is back after two-year hiatus

ALEXANDRIA — After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Andria Theatre’s Art in the Park is back and according to organizers, many people are looking forward to it.

“The vendors are so excited,” said Donna Magnuson from Andria Theatre. “They are so excited to be showing again and glad to be back at the park. They love Art in the Park. We’ve heard from so many people that they can’t wait for Art in the Park.”

The annual two-day event will take place at Alexandria City Park Saturday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Christine Reilly, Andria Theatre’s executive director, said Art in the Park is one of the theater’s biggest fundraisers. “It’s good to remind people that this event does help the theater,” she said, adding that the money collected from the parking fee goes back to the theater.

Parking is available on site for $5 per vehicle. The funds raised from parking, said Reilly, go to help with next year’s season.

She noted that on Saturday only, there will be parking available at the Douglas County Fairgrounds and that Rainbow Rider will be providing rides to and from City Park. The cost is $2 each way.

“To not have art fairs the last two years has been tough for artists,” said Reilly, noting that some have turned to the internet to try and sell their wares.

Magnuson added, “It’s so much better in person because you can touch, feel, see the goods as well as talk to the artist. It’s so fun to have in-person conversations.”

Reilly said there will be about 100 vendors this year, along with about 10 food vendors. Some are new and some are standards that have been at past Art in the Park events.

Magnuson said there is a good variety of mediums, including apparel, ceramics and pottery, jewelry, metals, paintings, photography, woods, textiles and fabrics and more.

One new thing this year, said Reilly, is that the Alexandria Sertoma Club has partnered with the Outreach Food Shelf and profits from the Sertoma’s food booth will be going to the Outreach Food Shelf.

Another new element to this year’s Art in the Park, she said, will be the nonprofit organization booths that will be set up at the entrance to the event. One new one, she noted, is The Arts Collaboration, which is made up of 10 area arts groups, including the Andria Theatre. This group was recently formed to showcase all the arts in the Alexandria lakes area (see related story) .

As for entertainment this year, Magnuson said all the performers will be setting up by the bandshell at City Park, which is different than in years past. On Saturday, there will be eight different performers and on Sunday, there will be five.

Here’s a look at the entertainment schedule:

Saturday, July 30

• 9 a.m. – Downtown Eli Brown
• 10 a.m. – Selling, Rolin and Wallace
• 11 a.m. – The Traveler
• Noon – Performances from Andria Theatre’s productions of “Tarzan” and “The Little Mermaid, Jr.”
• 1 p.m. – Lee Arthur Band
• 2 p.m. – Mikko Cowdery
• 3 p.m. – Rhythm and Rhyme
• 4 p.m. – Jim Young

Sunday, July 31

• 10 a.m. – Downtown Eli Brown
• 11 a.m. – Miss Darling Jane
• Noon – Miss Darling Jane
• 1 p.m. – Johari Tribe
• 2 p.m. – The Traveler
• 3 p.m. – Ben Schirmers

Both Magnuson and Reilly are looking forward to the Andria Theatre hosting Art in the Park again and are excited for people to go and support Minnesota-based artists and food vendors.
For more information, visit the Art in the Park page on the Andria Theatre’s website at www.andriatheatre.org/art-in-the-park .