Artsplosure Announces 2018 Lineup and Festival Details

Artsplosure, the presenter of Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival, today announced an extraordinary lineup of visual and performing artists.

The festival takes place on Saturday, May 19 through Sunday, May 20, 2018. This is the second year that the festival’s full footprint will be entirely on Fayetteville Street with a fully programmed music stage anchoring the northern end of the event. City Plaza hosts Squonk Opera’s whimsical kinetic performance piece, Cycle Sonic. The event also features the juried Art Market, multiple interactive art installations, a food truck rodeo area on Hargett Street and Kidsplosure on Martin St. The Main Stage hosts performances each evening on Saturday and Sunday of the event.

As it has been for 39 years, admission to Artsplosure is free! This ‘Art For All’ festival is planned and presented for the whole community to enjoy.

This year’s Art Market opens at 11 am, on Saturday, May 19, and features nearly 180 visual artists from across North Carolina and the nation. These artists and crafters exhibit and sell their original works of art in the following categories: ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood, other 2D and 3D works. Three expert judges award $3,500 across six merit awards to the top artists in the market. The Art Market opens an hour early on Sunday, May 20 for easy access for those with accessibility or other special needs.

Fayetteville Street will be filled with music beginning Saturday at 12 pm, on the Main Stage near the capitol building. Saturday performances highlight an array of incredible talent and genres, featuring sets from the ETSU Old Time Ramblers, Christie Lenée, David Myles, Ranky Tanky, and The Last Bandoleros.

Great performances continue on Sunday, May 20 starting at 12:30 pm with Launch Ministries Experience. In the afternoon and evening, the stage will showcase the talents of the Onyx Club Boys and John Papa Gros Band. The legendary reggae rockers The Wailers headline Sunday evening starting at 4:45 pm.

Spectacular performances continue throughout the weekend in City Plaza, which hosts Squonk Opera’s performances of Cycle Sonic. A whimsical show of kinetic, human-powered movement, sculptural puppetry, and music, this performance is a showstopper. Full performances of Cycle Sonic take place on Saturday, May 19 at 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 5 pm and Sunday, May 20 at 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, and 4:00 pm STEAM Workshops hosted by Squonk Opera and Drum Set Karaoke performances occur between Squonk Opera’s show times.

Kidsplosure opens in its new location on Martin Street at 11 a.m. on Saturday with special performances by Enloe Jazz Band, Progressive Music Center, Mary Kate Ayers, Read With Me, Southeast Raleigh Jazz Band, Teenfest Winners, North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre and an array of local young talents from across the Triangle. As always, Kidsplosure will be filled with crafts and other interactive activities for children to enjoy and learn from!

We’ll see you there as we celebrate art for all in downtown Raleigh.