750000 Expected For Coconut Grove Arts Festival

About 750,000 people are expected to attend the 41st annual Washington Mutual Coconut Grove Arts Festival during Presidents’ Day weekend.

The festival will run 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Feb. 14-15 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 16. It takes place on McFarlane Road, South Bayshore Drive and Pan American Drive, just south of downtown Miami next to Biscayne Bay. Last year, about $4 million in artwork was sold at the three-day show.

The festival features original artwork from the contemporary artists who will be present at the event, Global Food Village, world-class entertainment and an artists’ demonstration and lecture area. Works by more than 330 artists and craftsmen will be on display and will range from painting, clay work, photography, watercolor, wood and sculpture to jewelry and two- and three-dimensional mixed media.

Festival organizers will charge a $5 admission fee to the artists’ area to make up for a loss of state grants. Some proceeds will go to a building fund for a permanent arts center in Coconut Grove and some to finance arts programs and benefit 30 local non-profit organizations.

There will be no admission fee to the music and food areas.

The festival is organized by the Coconut Grove Arts & Historical Association Inc., a non-profit organization. The event was recently named the nation’s top arts festival by Sunshine Artist magazine, a publication for the outdoor arts-and-crafts show industry.