Day Two of the Leeper Park Art Fair gets underway

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. --The 57th annual Leeper Park Art Fair made its return on Saturday. 

The two-day festival features over 80 artists from across the country. Recognized as one of the top 100 fine art fairs in the U.S. by Sunshine Artist Magazine, it showcases a diverse range of artwork. 

The Leeper Park Art Fair has been a staple in the South Bend community for over half a century. According to Leeper Park Art Fair Chair Hedy Lane, this event is a cherished tradition, uniting the community through art and celebration. 

"We're excited. It grows a little each year, but we try to keep the feeling the same, very South Bend centric. It's like a close-knit family of artists here," Lane said.  

Lane says it is a meticulous process selecting the artists for the fest. They receive over 200 applications annually, each carefully reviewed and scored by a jury before inviting the selected artists to showcase their work at the park. 

Lane says that many of the artists are regionally, with some traveling from states such as Oregon and Florida.   

She encourages everyone to attend and support the artists, emphasizing that events like these are crucial for artists as it is their livelihood.  

"Artists are the highlight. We love having returning artists and love having a dozen new ones this year. We have a new category: digital arts. Come out and see what they got, Lane said. 

The fair runs from now until 5 p.m.