57^TH ANNUAL SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND IN CEDAR KEY

April 11, 2021

Since 1964, when Cedar Key hosted one of the first Arts Festivals in Florida, the community has joined together to welcome fine artists and craftsmen to this small island city, benefitting local non-profit groups, businesses, and strengthening Cedar Key’s reputation as a destination for art enthusiasts. Longtime residents remember when it got “too big,” others remember when it “was just a craft show,” and, undoubtedly, this year it will be remembered as being “unique” in some way.

As Coordinating Sponsor, the Cedar Key Arts Center has “re-envisioned” this year’s event in a COVID-conscious way with the focus on ART and SAFETY. Visitors will note that fewer artists have been invited and the booth layout has changed to allow generous spacing and facilitate one-way flow of foot traffic. Wide walkways, Hand Sanitizing Stations provided by Tobacco Free Partnership of Levy County, directional signage and frequent reminders that “We are All in this Together, Mask-Up, Back-Up and Wash-Up” will remind attendees to respect each other’s health and safety. Even though this is an outdoor event, and many visitors may be fully vaccinated, organizers encourage everyone to wear masks when adequate social distancing cannot be maintained. Obviously, anyone recently exposed to COVID-19 or with symptoms suggestive of infection should not plan to attend.

To keep the focus on ART and reduce congestion, the event has deferred some festival favorites like music, non-profit information booths, and Children’s Art in the Park, to future years. Food will be served in the park by local non-profit groups, but booths will be spaced further apart, with GRAB & GO common, and seating reduced and appropriately distanced. Unlike festivals in the past, organizers have made it clear in event advertising that ART is the focus this year, rather than food and family fun, and visitors are to leave pets at home.

The event is sponsored by Levy County Visitors Bureau, Palms Medical Group, Tobacco Free Partnership of Levy County, and supported by numerous local businesses including The Canvas Shop, Steamers, Drummond Bank, The Market in Cedar Key, Old Fenimore Mill, Nature Coast Realty, the Island Hotel and the Chiefland Citizen, and would not be possible without the dedicated members of the Lions Club, park coordinators, and the Cedar Key Arts Center.