The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HfA) is thrilled to announce the 3rd Annual Huntsville ART CRAWL running from June 1-30 in Downtown Huntsville, Muskoka.

The Huntsville ART CRAWL is a FREE self-guided art tour through businesses and venues throughout downtown Huntsville. This year’s event has grown featuring over 70 local artists, 33 different venues, and a number of special events. See the full list of participants at huntsvilleartcrawl.ca.

Visitors are encouraged to pick up a map from any downtown business (or download it from the huntsvilleartcrawl.ca) and create their own ART CRAWL experience by touring local businesses, galleries, and studios, which will feature exhibits, demos, and interactive experiences by local artists. Artwork will be available for participants to purchase during the event. Proceeds will go to participating artists, with a portion of the sale directly supporting the business the art is featured in. Get your map stamped at five venues, and you’ll be entered into a draw for a fabulous prize package. The first 30 visitors will automatically receive $25 that can be spent in businesses downtown.

“We’re so pleased to bring this event back again this year,” says Dan Watson, Executive Director of HfA. “The CRAWL is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the work of our talented local artists, support local businesses, have fun with friends & family, and explore Downtown Huntsville’s beautiful new streetscape design.”

This year’s ART CRAWL includes a number of special events:

EN PLEIN AIR ART MARKET | June 24 | 10am-6pm | River Mill Park
AN OPEN-AIR MARKET FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS AND LIVE PAINTING!

This new event consists of a day-long art market featuring local artists along with live outdoor painting and music. A maximum of 20 local vendors will display and sell their art throughout the park. The market also marks the return of the popular En Plein Air painting event. The event originally run by Kelly Holinshead of the Shutterbug Gallery, invites artists and area dignitaries to grab an easel and some paint before choosing an outdoor location downtown to inspire their creations. A few hours later, participants have to put down their brushes. The paintings are then given a bit of drying time before they are auctioned off to the public at 4 pm, with proceeds going towards the Kareen Burn Visual Arts Scholarship supporting a local student studying visual arts-related studies in a post-secondary institution or program.

TOM THOMSON CANOE MURALS | JUNE 12-17 | River Mill Park

Artist Gerry Lantaigne will lead a group of local artists in the creation of canoe murals featuring the work the Tom Thomson. Now in its fourth year, artists will paint the canoes “en plein air” during a week-long event in Downtown Huntsville’s River Mill Park. Artists to be confirmed. Engage with the artists while you watch the beautiful paintings being created! Once completed, these canoes will be displayed in Downtown Huntsville as part of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery Tour and eventually included in the Algonquin Outfitters Paddle Art Auction.

WEDNESDAY WALKABOUTS | June 7, 14 & 28 | 5pm
An organized group walk every Wednesday in June in Downtown Huntsville to explore and enjoy the Huntsville Art Crawl. At 5 pm, individuals will gather at the HfA Studio located at 58 Main St. (entrance across from River Mill Park) before beginning a tour of various stops on the Huntsville Art Crawl and ending at a local restaurant or bar for drinks and appetizers. There will be lots of fun surprises along the way including visits from participating artists, prizes, music, and more. Anyone interested in joining the walks can register online at huntsvilleartcrawl.ca or call 705-788-2787.

SATURDAY DEMOS | June 3 & 10 | 1pm-4pm *subject to change
Join artists in the moment as they paint and create ‘en plein air’. Demos will take place in different downtown locations for the first two Saturdays in June from 1 pm-4 pm. 

The CRAWL is made possible with generous support from the Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association, the Huntsville Downtown BIA, and community partners the Huntsville Art Society & Muskoka Unlimited.

All of this plus great shows at the Algonquin Theatre including The Dreamboats (June 16), Alex Cuba (June 22), Measha Brueggergosman-Lee (June 29), and Steven Lee Olsen (June 30).

For further information and updates, please visit huntsvillefestival.ca or huntsvilleartcrawl.ca

Or contact Dan Watson, Executive Director, Huntsville Festival of the Arts 

Huntsville, ON, [email protected],  705-788-2787

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