The Westhampton Beach Festival of the Arts will return to the Great Lawn on Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31, featuring the work of nearly 100 contemporary artists from across the country.
The festival will take place rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the park across from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 35 Main St. Admission and parking are free.
“It’s the biggest art show in the New York area… It’s been in the top 100 for over 10 years,” said Bill Kinney, event director for Paragon Festivals, which sponsors the event.
Kinney said the juried show includes artists selected based on samples of their work. “The artists come from everywhere—China, Florida, California, all over the country,” he said.
According to the event website, many participating artists have work in private and public collections. New artists join the lineup each year. During the event, the Great Lawn becomes an open-air gallery, where visitors can meet and speak with the artists.
Kinney said the show includes a range of media.
“Find any sort of art there—everything from fiber to sculpture, painting, mixed media and jewelry,” he said. Other media include ceramics, photography, metalwork, woodwork and glass.
The festival will not feature food vendors. Kinney said this is to encourage attendees to support businesses in the village of Westhampton Beach.
“It’s the first of the Hamptons so you’re not stuck in crazy traffic… we get people from Connecticut, Westchester and New York that come to the event by train,” he said.
The festival began 17 years ago. Kinney said he contacted St. Mark’s Episcopal Church to secure a venue when launching a new company.
“I was starting a new company, and we did a show in Montauk, and we went to the church and said we’d make a donation if you would support us in the event,” he said. At the time, the church owned the Great Lawn. It has since been sold to the city.
Kinney also said the festival was one of the first art shows to reopen as a COVID-safe event following the pandemic.
“It makes a great day,” he said. “You come and have lunch in Westhampton, get some bagels and lox and visit the event.”
For more information, visit the website.