Arts and culture festival takes over downtown this weekend

A free arts and culture festival comes to downtown Sault Ste. Marie this weekend featuring artist workshops, guided book-folding, multimedia exhibits, as well as dance and musical performances and an artisan market.

The VIVID festival is presented by the Downtown Association, Local Immigration Partnership and the City of Sault Ste. Marie and wraps up with a film festival on Sunday.

This year's event is welcoming artists Dinho Bento, Megan Oldhues, and Josh Morley who will each create and install a large-scale mural to add to the public art offerings within the downtown area.

To attend any of the free workshops, performances, screenings or tours, you are encouraged (but not required) to sign up at vividartfest.ca.  

Learn more about this weekend's event in the news release below:

Festival partners the Downtown Association, Local Immigration Partnership and the City of Sault Ste. Marie are proud to bring you VIVID: Arts • Culture • Media – presented by Tenaris!

This 100% FREE arts and culture festival kicks off in downtown Baawaating - Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, Sept. 20, with artist workshops facilitated by local artists and creators, guided book-folding with Lisa Tucker at the Plaza Beer Garden, a multimedia presentation of Traces II by Michael Burtch and Annie King, the ‘Strange Exhibits’ walking tour that explores the city’s mural collection, and a free 3-hour neotraditional country concert at the Sault Downtown Plaza featuring Honey Guys, Brendan Hodgson, and the Golden Scoundrels!

To attend any of the free workshops, performances, screenings or tours, please sign up at: vividartfest.ca. Registration is not required but is appreciated. Without registration space is available on a first come-first served basis.

On day two, Saturday Sept. 21, enjoy accessible early-morning yoga in the Plaza led by Cynthia McCutcheon of Dagokiing Yoga (BYOM!), as well as a mosaic market that features creators, vendors, and artisans with a variety of offerings and products alongside the Soo Market at the Downtown Plaza.

Global musical and dance performances hosted by the Local Immigration Partnership take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! Later in the day, join Tagona Press upstairs at the Soo Market where Publisher Bryan Davies, authors Judy Penz Sheluk, Marianne Perry and podcast host Lisa Tucker meet to answer your questions and give you an inside look at publishing!

At 8 p.m., VIVID Partner 2SOC and the Bawating Babes will be at Mane Street Events Room & Lounge for the Country-Hoe Down (tickets $20 at the door), or head to the Plaza for free EDM + Hip Hop performances featuring Mickey O’Brien, Fresh Kils, OhZee, Planet Rock, Skeletune and Bold Noize beginning at 6 p.m.!

On the final festival day, Sunday, Sept. 22, visit the Sault Ste. Marie Museum for a 1-day film festival curated by Rusty Halo Productions which includes a short film block, a documentary slot. The day also includes the Canadian produced feature Cascade shot right in Sault Ste. Marie as well as a Latin produced feature!

Walking tours and workshops continue today – join Sarah Skagen for her workshop at the Art Hub for She: How It Came To Be and How You Can Do It Too!

During this year’s festival, VIVID is delighted to welcome globally renowned artists Dinho Bento, Megan Oldhues, and Josh Morley who will each create and install a large-scale mural to add to the public art offerings within the downtown area.

For details of the entire event lineup and to register to secure your spots in advance, please visit vividartfest.ca!

VIVID is an annual festival that takes place in Bawaating | Sault Ste. Marie, ON, that celebrates the vibrant arts and culture community within the region. Throughout this festival, organizations work together to create and develop accessible, sustainable, multi-disciplinary public art, culture and heritage programming that supports tourism, economic diversity, and arts sector development. The partnerships and collaborations established within this event seek to support a welcoming and inclusive community through increased representation, cross-cultural relationships, and through opportunities for community members to share in meaningful, accessible multi-cultural and artistic experiences. VIVID Art Fest is intended to promote and foster a sense of pride, place, ownership, and inclusion in the community for everyone.