#57SummerHotSpots: Krasl Art Fair
SAINT JOSEPH, Mich.-Did you know that one of the largest art fairs in the nation is hosted right here in Michiana? #57SummerHotSpots is taking you to the Krasl Art Fair, set to take place this weekend in downtown Saint Joe, Michigan
“We’re a small lakeside community that grows to be a huge lakeside community in the summer,” said Breeze Ettl, Director of Marking & Development at the Krasl Art Center.
That extra foot traffic this time of year is all thanks to a Saint Joseph couple, who had a passion for the arts and wanted to share that devotion with the place that they call home.
“56 years ago when Olga Krasl and her husband George started this fair along with several of their artist friends it just has grown and grown and grown,” Ettl said.
Ettl says this annual art fair is known on a national level.
“Back in February, we have about 1,000 artists that apply,” Ettl said. “Out of that thousand, we have a 5 panel jury that chooses 200,” Ettl said.
More than 50,000 people pack the downtown streets.
“It’s the most fun thing because you walk along the beautiful bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and you look at all this fabulous art and then you buy it,” Ettl said.
From the Golden State of California, to the Sunshine State of Florida, the hope of artists from coast to coast shines a spotlight right on the heart of Southwest Michigan.
“I think that the enthusiasm of the art community in Saint Joseph Michigan helped build this,” Ettl said.
New to the fair this year is the Krasl Art Fair app. The app includes all information about the fair, including all of the artists and where they will be located along the bluff.
Parking is available at Kelley’s Bowl at 2705 Cleveland Avenue and Edgewater Business Center located at 511 Renaissance Drive. Shuttle buses will run continuously to drop off and pick up guests at the north end of the bluff at the corner of Lake Boulevard and Ship Street. The shuttle runs Saturday from 9:30 AM-7 PM and Sunday 9:30 AM-6 PM. A $1 per person donation is requested.