The city of Coral Springs (our home for the past 15 years since we moved to Florida from NYC) might not be the first place you think of for the arts in South Florida but that would be an egregious oversight. I mean, the city is home to the Coral Springs Museum of Art AND the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, an expansive cultural center that offers music, theater, comedy and dance. Oh, and the Coral Springs Festival of the Arts just celebrated its 14th year this past weekend. So there’s that.
Sadly, after living here for 15 years, we attended our very first Festival just last year (Mrs. Perez and I clearly don’t get out all that much) but we marked our calendar for this year and like the year before, the Coral Springs Festival of the Arts did not disappoint. The two-day celebration of arts and culture featured a fine art show, contemporary craft festival, theatrical performances, Urban Art Paintout, and full line-up of live music. Oh, and I got the photographs to prove it. Behold…
The festival. which attracts 30,000-40,000 people from all over the South Florida area, takes place at The Walk on University Drive, the ultimate social sanctuary to gather with family and friends…
Nigerian artist Rahmon Olugunna
Photographer Nancy Ney
Wisconsin artist Nick Ringelstetter aka Atomic7
The PTSA of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School and the Coral Spring Police Department were in attendance reminding us they stand #MSDStrong
Activities for kids? Yeah, there were plenty of those as well…
Plenty of food and drinks…
Funky cast iron mailboxes? Yeah, that too.
Cuban artist Raul Hernandez
Beautiful Art Deco from the imagination of Steven Penafiel
The young girls from the Kelly Academy of Irish Dance put on a show on Saint Patrick’s Day
Cachet Band got the crowd off their feet on Saturday afternoon…
The Gold Coast Banjo Band proved that you can rock a party at any age…
Orquesta Nostalgia brought the classic sounds of the Mambo to Coral Springs on Sunday
The gang from the Ronin Taiko Academy tore the proverbial roof off the place with their Japanese drumming aka “wadaiko”
Mariachi Los Monarcas brought Mexico’s rich cultural heritage to Coral Springs
What arts festival would be complete without an Urban Art Paintout?
The Coral Springs Festival of the Arts has something for everyone, regardless of age. This was my second time attending (one day with Mrs. Perez and the other with my daughter) and I can assure you, we will be back in 2019. See you there…
