The city is preparing to debut a four-day celebration of the arts that will feature special programs, free events, and a creative takeover of Central Park.
Winter Park Arts Weekend will spotlight the 22 member organizations of the Winter Park Arts & Cultural Alliance between February 20 and 23. “It’s meant to raise awareness of the Alliance and local arts nonprofits with residents and visitors coming into the community,” said Alliance Senior Advisor Anda Ariail.
The event is a rehab of the Weekend of the Arts that debuted in February of 2018 with live music, fine art exhibits, and children’s activities. The festival returned in 2019 but was canceled over pandemic restrictions in 2020. Arts Weekend will offer more programming over a longer schedule and is made possible by a grant from Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation and support from AdventHealth.
The Winter Park Arts Weekend schedule is as follows:
Thursday, Feb. 20, Center for Health and Wellbeing, 6 p.m.: Winter Park Health Foundation and AdventHealth present Take 2 Monets and call Me in the Morning: The Powerful Impact of the Arts on Health & Wellbeing. Keynote speaker Jill Sonke, PhD will focus on the relationship between arts and health. The event is free but registration is required.
Friday, Feb. 21, Central Park Main Stage, 6:30 p.m.: Bach Festival Society of Winter Park will present Big Band Spirituals. The concert will blend the soulful depth of African American spirituals with the energy of big band jazz. The public is invited to bring blankets and chairs for the free event.
Saturday, Feb. 22, Central Park, 1-4 p.m.: Arts & Cultural Alliance organizations will present Art in the Park, featuring live performances and activities. The festival-style event will spread throughout the park with booths, exhibit tables, and performances on Central Park Main Stage. Leslye Gale of Magic 107.7 radio will serve as emcee.
Sunday, Feb. 23: Visit Alliance member locations to explore facilities and enjoy free or discounted Arts Weekend programs.
The Arts & Cultural Alliance is also working with the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and Park Avenue District for arts-related menu items and drink specials at restaurants, and artist appearances at shops and galleries. Guests can also find the many fine art pieces owned by the city with the Winter Park Public Art Collection. The online platform was developed by the Public Art Advisory Board and catalogues the collection in an interactive locator map.
Winter Park leaders are looking forward to adding Arts Weekend to the city’s annual cultural calendar. Ariail said planning and strategy sessions, which began last summer, will serve as a template for future events.
“Working through issues now will help us next year,” she said, noting that one of the most challenging aspects has been mapping table and tent locations for the Saturday programs. “We’re using all of Central Park, so we need to create a site plan that leads you from one exhibit to another and flows through paths and around the whole space.”
Details on exhibits, performances, and participating venues, merchants, and restaurants are available at wpinspires.org/artsweekend
