Marblehead Festival of Arts Kicks Off Thursday, Continues through the Weekend

The Marblehead Festival of Arts celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and the lineup is worthy of a golden anniversary.

The festival officially takes place July 2-5, but the traditional Awards Night Presentation is open to the public and happening Wednesday evening. The evening kicks off at 6 p.m. on the upper greet at Abbot Hall. Meet the artists, enjoy performances by the Angkor Dance Troupe, the Symphony by the Sea Quartet and Don White (musings, comedy and song).

Wednesday evening wraps up with the dusk premiere of the Marblehead Festival of Arts film festival.

Then, each evening through July 5, guests can expect a wide range of entertainment -- musical, dance, art, etc. -- as the festival carries the town through the holiday weekend.

Check out the full schedule of festival events below:

Wednesday, July 1

Awards Presentation Abbot Hall, Upper Grounds 6:00 – 7:00pm

Preview of Art Exhibits Various Art Exhibit Locations 7:00 – 8:15pm

Performing Arts* Crocker Park 6:00 – 8:30pm

Film Festival Crocker Park 9:00 – 10:30pm

Thursday, July 2

Painting the Town Look for plein aire artists around town Starting at 9:30am

Art Exhibits (July 2 – 5 Schedule noted here)

Crafts Abbot Hall 2:00 – 7:00pm

Drawing Abbot Hall 2:00 – 7:00pm

Logo Art Unitarian Universalist Church 2:00 – 7:00pm

Mixed Media St. Michael’s Church 2:00 – 7:00pm

Painting Abbot Hall 2:00 – 7:00pm

Photography Old Town House 2:00 – 7:00pm

Printmaking Abbot Hall 2:00 – 7:00pm Sculpture St. Michael’s Church 2:00 – 7:00pm

Senior Art Unitarian Universalist Church 2:00 – 7:00pm

Student Art Old North Church 2:00 – 7:00pm (7/3, 4, 5 only)

Writers’ World Unitarian Universalist Church 2:00 – 7:00pm

Youth Art Old North Church 2:00 – 7:00pm (7/3, 4, 5 only)

49 Years of Winning Artists Exhibit Marblehead Arts Association 10:00am – 5:00pm

Fifty Cods for Fifty Festivals Various Merchant’s Locations Merchant’s Hours

Logo Store Outside Abbot Hall 2:00 – 7:00pm

Film Festival – Retrospective Abbot Library 2:00 – 4:00pm

Writers’ World Workshop Unitarian Universalist Church

Children’s Stories: Jeana Reines Kahn 2:00 – 4:00pm

Performing Arts Crocker Park 6:00 – 10:30pm

Friday, July 3

Festival Trolley/Satellite Parking MHS Parking Lot, Pleasant St. 9:30am – 11:30pm

Art Exhibits Various Locations – see July 2nd 10:00am – 5:00pm

Fifty Cods for Fifty Festivals Various Merchant’s Locations Merchant’s Hours

Logo Store Outside Abbot Hall – Washington St. 10:00am – 5:00pm

Writers’ World Workshops Unitarian Universalist Church

Keynote: Phyllis Karas - Rejecting Rejections: Getting Your Work Out There 10:00am – 12 noon

KL Pereira - Ekphrastic Storytelling: 2:00 – 4:00pm

Literary Arts Café Unitarian Universalist Church 10:00am – 5:00pm

Film Festival – Redux Abbot Library – Pleasant St 10:00am – 12 noon

Film Festival – Workshop Abbot Library – Pleasant St 1:30 - 3:30pm

Children’s Festival Lee Mansion Garden 10:00am – 1:00pm

Performing Arts Crocker Park 12noon – 3:30pm

Painting the Town Marblehead Arts Association 12noon – 5:00pm

Awards and Artists’ Reception 11:00am

The Tea Room Marblehead Arts Association 1:00pm – 4:30pm

Performing Arts Crocker Park 6:00pm – 8:30pm

Saturday, July 4

Festival Trolley/Satellite Parking MHS Parking Lot, Pleasant St. 9:30am – 11:30pm

Artisans’ Marketplace Abbot Hall Upper Grounds 10:00am – 5:00pm

Logo Store Outside Abbot Hall 10:00am – 5:00pm

Art Exhibits Various Locations, see July 2nd 10:00am – 5:00pm

Fifty Cods for Fifty Festivals Various Merchant’s Locations Merchant’s Hours

Literary Arts Café Unitarian Universalist Church 10:00am – 5:00pm

Kite Festival Devereux Beach 10:00am – 3:00pm

Writers’ World Workshop Unitarian Universalist Church

Will Dowd - Human Bites Dog: What Makes News in Marblehead? 10:00am – 12 noon

T Max - Songwriting Workshop: Good To The Last Drop 2:00 – 4:00pm

Boat Building Lee Mansion Garden 11:00am – 2:00pm

Boat Building Regatta Redd’s Pond 3pm till finish

Performing Arts Crocker Park 12noon – 3:30pm

The Tea Room Marblehead Arts Association 1:00 – 4:30pm

Performing Arts Crocker Park 6:00 – 10:30pm (With intermission for Harbor Illumination and Fireworks Dusk, approximately 8:45pm)

Sunday, July 5

Festival Trolley/Satellite Parking MHS Parking Lot, Pleasant St. 11:30am – 5:30pm

Artisans’ Marketplace Abbot Hall Upper Grounds 10:00am – 4:00pm

Logo Store Outside Abbot Hall – Washington St. 10:00am – 4:00pm

Fifty Cods for Fifty Festivals Various Merchant’s Locations Merchant’s Hours

Art Exhibits Abbot Hall 10:00am – 5:00pm

Art Exhibits All Other Locations 12noon – 5:00pm

Literary Arts Café Unitarian Universalist Church 12noon – 5:00pm

Street Festival Lower Washington St. 12noon – 4:00pm

The Tea Room Marblehead Arts Association 1:00 – 4:30pm

Readings from Writers’ World Unitarian Universalist Church 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Reception for Writers’ World Winners 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Festival Closes 5:00pm

Art pickup by Artists and Art Purchasers at Exhibit Sites 5:00pm – 6:00pm