2024 Paseo Arts Festival to show off major makeover for historic OKC district: What to know

The Tuesday after the 2023 Paseo Arts Festival ended its traditional three-day Memorial Day weekend run, construction workers showed up in Oklahoma City's historic Paseo Arts District to start on an extensive makeover of Paseo Drive, its winding central throughfare.

After all, the $4 million streetscape project along the historic arts corridor — funded through the 10-year, $967 million Better Streets, Safer City bond package OKC voters passed in 2017 — had a hard deadline: It had to be finished in less than a year, in time for organizers to set up the 2024 Paseo Arts Festival.

"It's been quite stressful. ... I can't tell you how many times people asked me, 'Is it going to be ready in time?'" said Amanda Bleakley, executive director of the Paseo Arts Association, which produces the festival.

"But they replaced our street; that concrete's all new. They replaced all the sidewalks, they put in all the new red pavers ... and after festival, they'll finish the landscaping."

Construction crews finished the majority of the work just in time, and attendees to the 47th Annual Paseo Arts Festival will find the long-running event set on a repaved Paseo Drive flanked by new, safer sidewalks and dotted with new benches, trash cans, bike racks, message boards and streetlights.

Added pet waste stations, improved drainage and better water and electrical infrastructure to support events like the festival also were included in the streetscape project. It was designed to preserve the quirky charm of the Paseo, which was built in 1929 as the first shopping district north of downtown OKC, while improving walkability, as well as accessibility for people with disabilities. Known for its curvy streets and Spanish revival architecture, the arts district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"We're very excited. ... Absolutely, it was worth it. It was just a hard year for everybody, and maybe harder for some than others," Bleakley said. "We've never been closed, but we're looking forward to people coming to the festival and seeing that ... the orange cones are out of here."

A long-running Memorial Day weekend tradition, the Paseo Arts Festival annually draws thousands of attendees by showcasing about 90 visiting artists, plus dozens of neighborhood artists, along with 50-plus Oklahoma entertainers, numerous food and beverage vendors, children's activities, a free shuttle service and more.

Here's what you need to know about the 2024 Paseo Arts Festival:

When is the 2024 Paseo Arts Festival?

Hours for the 2024 Paseo Arts Festival are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 25-26, with live music until 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27 in the Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey.

Admission is free.

How many artists will be at this year's Paseo Arts Festival?

The Paseo Arts District is the year-round creative home of more than 80 local artists working in a wide range of styles, media and techniques.

During the festival, about 90 nationally acclaimed visual artists bring their original artwork to the tents that are set up on Paseo Drive. Their wares include paintings, ceramics, photography, glass art, woodwork, sculptures and jewelry, and to earn a spot in the festival, visiting artists go through a specialized jury process.

"Just due to the new streetscape, we've got a few less artists, but we really packed them in this year. And I think we've got a really great group from around the whole country," said Theresa Hultberg, program manager for the Paseo Arts Association.

What Oklahoma entertainers will be performing at this year's festival?

This year's Paseo Arts Festival will feature an array of live music, dance performances and even poetry readings on two stages. Returning favorites on the lineup range from Jahruba & the Jahmystics and Aalim Dance Academy to Original Flow & The Wavvez and Poetic City.

"We've got some new acts this year, and then some really great returning acts. Our new ones are Sophia Massad; we've also got Compost Adjacent and Limp Wizurdz," Hultberg said.

"Some of these are musicians that actually live in the neighborhood that really want to support their local community and come out and perform. Some of those are Bee Pichardo, Sarafina Byrd and pretty well."

Popular local guitarist Edgar Cruz will play three shows at the three-day event: His Led Zeppelin tribute band Uncle Zep will play at 9 p.m. May 25 on the South Stage, he will perform a solo set at 2:45 p.m. May 26 on the North Stage, and he and his mates in The Brave Amigos will close out the fest at 4 p.m. May 27 on the South Stage.

Plus, SixTwelve education center, 612 NW 29, is hosting a free all-ages show featuring OKC family-funk duo Sugar Free Allstars at 10 a.m. May 25 in conjunction with the festival.

What children's activities will be offered at the Paseo Arts Festival?

Under the children's art tent outside Contemporary Art Gallery, families can find free hands-on art activities, including spin art, a longtime festival favorite. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 25-26 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27.

For one last time, Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan, a nonprofit arts organization and dance company, is inviting festivalgoers into its longtime home at 3020 Paseo Drive to take part in its popular Paper Play Theatre, where children and adults can craft paper puppets and stages and put on their own shows. Paper Play Theatre hours are noon to 5:30 p.m. May 25-26 and noon to 5 p.m. May 27.

"We've got our tables ready, and we've got our supplies all set up," said Lorrie Keller, founder and creative director of Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan. "We've been here since 1993 ... and Paper Play Theatre, which we've always done in our space, we've always offered during the Paseo festival."

After the festival, Keller said the multidisciplinary arts organization will vacate its longtime Paseo Arts District home.

"We will be somewhere else, and it may not even be a place. ... It will be an idea," Keller said. "As in the creative process, it never stops: It just grows, it just keeps on growing, and it grows itself. Creativity grows itself, and so will StarDanceSwan."

What will be there to eat and drink at this year's Paseo Arts Festival?

The festival food offerings will include an array of festive fare, including corn dogs, funnel cakes, nachos, hot dogs, roasted nuts, kettle corn, ice cream and Dippin' Dots.

Food choices include returning favorites Barbells & BBQ, Let’s Do Greek, Toast & Coffee and Big Biang Theory, along with new vendors like Yum Yum Goat and Boka Bowls.

For the grown-ups, Stella Artois, Golden Road Mango Cart and Kona Big Wave will be served cold on tap and can be found by the South Stage. Other beers and beverages can be found at the three Paseo Arts Association drink tents.

Where can people park at the Paseo Arts Festival?

Paseo Drive will be closed during the event, since that's where visiting artists set up their booths.

Free parking is offered at NW 36 and Walker, and a free air-conditioned shuttle will run a continuous route between the lot and the north end of the festival at NW 30 and Dewey.

Shuttle hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 25-26 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 27.

How does the free festival raise money for the Paseo Arts Association?

Although admission is free, the Paseo Arts Festival is the largest annual fundraiser for the Paseo Arts Association, with beverage and merchandise sales supporting the nonprofit organization's year-round programming.  

Festivalgoers can support the Paseo Arts Association by wetting their whistle at the official Paseo drink tents and buying official T-shirts, posters and other merchandise. Oklahoma artist Rick Sinnett, a muralist, printmaker and curator known for his colorful works incorporating mandalas and butterflies, created this year's official festival design.

"Just to have the opportunity to do the poster, it was one of these milestones in my life and career, because I feel like Paseo is a part of me, since I was a little kid coming down here for the festivals and things," Sinnett said.

47th PASEO ARTS FESTIVAL 

• When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 25-26, with live music until 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27.

• Where: Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey.

• Admission: Free. 

• 'Mothman: Rick Sinnett' exhibit: Through May 27, Gallery III in Paseo Arts and Creativity Center, 3024 Paseo.

• To volunteer: https://www.thepaseo.org/festival-volunteers. 

• Information: https://www.thepaseo.org/festival.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Paseo Arts Festival 2024: What to know about parking, tickets, more