The Urban Art Festival is a grassroots festival at its best - a little bit of every kind of art (including some varieties not always recognized as art) all dumped into one public park, then shaken, not stirred, with lots of music and other cool stuff. Now in its seventh year, the Urban Art Festival has expanded to two full days, and will take place June 25 and 26 along Thea Foss Waterway.

The festival began in 2004 when a group of friends, including Joey Morrison, Johanna Gardner (currently the event coordinator), Linda Honeck and Laura and Matt Eklund, decided to put together an event featuring all kinds of art, focusing on local and environmentally friendly vendors and artists. Though one of the founding members, Joey Morrison, passed away unexpectedly in 2005, the group continued on, and even picked up some new members, including Lisa Fruichantie (performance art coordinator) and Mandi Martin (vendor coordinator).The festival strives to bring together every type of music and art, and to tear down stereotypes and draw in the community.

This year, visitors can enjoy the bigger and better nature of this festival as it ramps up. There will be three stages, lots of artists and lots of music.

To read Kristin Kendle's full article click here.

Urban Art Festival

Saturday, June 25 noon to 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 26 noon to 9:20 p.m.
Thea Foss Waterway
from the Museum of Glass at 1801 Dock St.
to beyond the 21st Street Bridge, Tacoma
tacomaurbanart.com