Arts Festival weekend events set to draw huge crowds

The Festival of the Arts is taking over the Bicentennial Park in Oklahoma City this week.

The annual summer event was canceled last year and then postponed to April.

Between 90,000 and 100,000 people are expected to attend the event every day.

Some vendors claim to be well stocked for this summer’s festival season, after months of lockdown.

Drummer and instrument maker Akeem Ayanniyi said he made the most of his free time.

“I couldn’t go anywhere, so I ended up working in my workshop,” he said.

But he is happy to come back to sell his musical instruments.

“It’s fantastic, every time I go out I have a blast,” he said.

Painting in tropical colors, artist Daphne Covington captured the attention of the crowd.

“I arrived at 7:30 am this morning and had a great show already, so that should say something,” she said.

155 artists are lined up around the park until Sunday.

The Oklahoma Arts Council has provided music, food trucks, and take-out crafts for the kids.

“They are delighted to be back on the road, they miss each other, we miss each other. They’ve come home, working on their craft, so they’re well stocked, ”said Kaycee Nolting, Arts Council Co-Chair.

Bricktown bike patrols are on site, but their biggest concern is the heat.

“They are really there to help people, if they need direction, whatever they might need, but if they need to take enforcement action, they can do it,” Lt. Michael said. Roof.

Roads will be blocked for the arts festival from Main Street to Robert S. Kerr, then from Lee to Hudson Avenue.

It’s a busy weekend downtown, there will also be road closures around Scissortail Park.

OKC Pride Alliance hosts the Pride Fest at the park from Friday to Sunday. They are expecting nearly 100,000 people.