Tracie B.
Yelp
People love to dis this event, claiming that it's too hot (like the weather is a controlling factor), and that most of the art is crap. The quality of the art is a matter of opinion and I admit that some of it just weird and some is kind of boring. Taking into account however is the fact that this is still the second largest Arts Festival in the country (Ann Arbor is the largest) and it's a juried event with only 10% of the 2,000 artists accepted.
The event has become much better organized over the years. The first year, 1991, each block had booths set up on both sides of the street creating a narrow path down the middle. With the crowds (and mass of strollers) trying to actually get into a booth was almost impossible. Now however, booths are lined up on only one side of each street which makes navigation much easier.
There is everything from serious woodworking - a magnificant ($15,000) door which would require a multi-million dollar house to be constructed around it, and a booth with hand carved wooden guitars, to stunning (seriously) water colors and oil paintings. One booth had oil paintings of food, including donuts which was almost impossible differentiate from a photograph. There is also some good and interesting photography, although I must admit, if I see one more photo of the gargoyles on top of the Chrysler Building (will it be called the Fiat Building now...hmmm) I may hurl. Lots of mixed media and what I like to call "whimsy" art like metal flying pigs and a tank sculpture (for your front yard). I admit, I had to shake my head at the booth with pots made from colorful garden hoses. I'd like to question the jury about that one...
Then there are the jewelry booths, which always have gaggles of females lined up three deep to the dismay of spouses standing in the shade praying that the wife does not have to have another bauble. Some of the jewelry is really creative and beautiful - some of it, not so much.
Still, the CCAF as an annual event has some great, and affordable art. There are bargains. A friend of mine picked up a large beautiful hand-blown glass bowl for only $150! Since artists set their own prices you need to pay attention as a similar glass creation from another artist will set you back $800 or more.
For those who just think that there are not enough "interesting" people to watch, HELLO, this is Cherry Creek not Soho. Get over it. Do what we do, show up early, don't get caught up in going into every booth, buy something you like and can afford and make sure to have a reservation at a local CC restaurant for lunch (eating standing up or sitting on a curb at the food court may support the Festival, but it's not my idea of a lunch).