Autumn & Art at Bradley Fair, presented by Fidelity Bank, returns to the parkway this Friday with fun for art enthusiasts of all ages.
The outdoor fine-art show and sale, which is free and open to the public, is celebrating its twelfth anniversary.
Produced by Wichita Festivals the event was presented online in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic after drawing 32,000 guests in 2019. Attendees can view and purchase original fine-art works in 11 media, including paintings, jewelry, 2- mixed media, sculptures, drawings and photographs, as well as glass, wood, ceramic, metal and fiber pieces. Autumn & Art 2019 features artists from 24 states, including 22 Kansas artists, and also includes refreshments and art-themed activities.
“What a beautiful time of year to get outside with friends and family and enjoy original artwork,” said Teri Mott, director of marketing and communication at WFI. “We are so excited to celebrate our tenth festival on Bradley Fair Parkway, and we welcome the community to join in the fun.”
The opening night Patron Party is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. and features specialty spirits and Prophesy wines; gourmet food from Newport Grill, Redrock Canyon Grill, and YaYa’s EuroBistro; entertainment by Uptown Violins; patron gifts; and wine and whiskey pulls that will raise funds for the event.
Patrons also enjoy reserved parking and complimentary beverages throughout the weekend. Patron Tickets are $140 and are available until noon Friday by calling Wichita Festivals at (316) 267-2817; online at AutumnandArt.com; or at Bradley Fair Guest Services, located next to Williams Sonoma. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.
This year’s activities and amenities include The Art of Bloody Marys, a build-your-own bar from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; a live broadcast of the B98-FM Sunday Jazz Brunch with Steve Bauer program; lawn games such as giant Jenga and chess; and the Chill & Charge Lounge, which offers a chance to relax while you charge your phone, courtesy of Living Sound and Evergy. Wine, beer and soft drinks will be available at cash bars to enjoy along the parkway.
Fun for kids and families scheduled on Saturday and Sunday includes Artie’s Art Studio, which offers free hands-on art projects directed by arts educators from Mark Arts, Storytime with KU Wichita Pediatrics and Artie’s Masterpiece Games along the parkway.
Autumn & Art hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15. The festival takes place on Bradley Fair Parkway, just east of Bradley Fair at Rock Road and 21st Street North.
In addition to Fidelity Bank, sponsors include Walser Auto Campus Wichita, Evergy, Martin Pringle, The Flint Hills Group at Morgan Stanley, IMA, KU Wichita Pediatrics, American Theatre Guild, Legend Senior Living, House of Schwan, Trust Company of Kansas, J.P. Weigand, Living Sound, Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, and Wilbeck Chiropractic. Visit Wichita is the Official Marketing Partner for this event.
Also partnering with Wichita Festivals, Inc. to produce the event are Laham Development, Mark Arts, Newport Grill, RedRock Canyon Grill, YaYa’s EuroBistro, Tree Top Nursery, PrairieFire Coffee Roasters, RedGuard SiteBox, PrairieLand Partners, The Frame Shop, Pottery Barn, Homegrown, Docuplex, Hilton Garden Inn, Jacob Liquor Exchange, Luminous Neon Art & Sign Systems, The Bar’s Open, Star Lumber, and Unifirst. Media partners for the event are Lamar Outdoor, iHeart Radio/B98-FM, Intake Studios, KAKE, KMUW, Johnson Media Services, SPLURGE!, East Wichita News/West Side Story, Wichita.com, Wichita Transit, Radio Kansas and The Wichita Eagle.
Wichita Festivals, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with the purpose of creating diverse community celebrations within the Wichita community.