Artwalk Festival kicks off Big Bear Lake’s summer season
The arts will play a key role in the BigBearLakeVillage this summer starting off with The Pine Knot Village Artwalk Festival July 5-7.
The Artwalk Festival is a collaboration of the Mountain and Deserts Arts Association, the Arts Council of Big Bear Valley and The City of Big Bear Lake designed to appeal to a wide audience – from the avid arts collector and aficionado to families young and old, just visiting our mountain community or full or part-time residents of the valley.
“This year’s festival is our most exciting arts event yet” says Tim Breunig, Executive director of the Big Bear Lake Festival. “Our new, larger venue in the village will allow us the growth to become a major regional arts event.”
Adds Breunig, “The Artwalk Festival kicks off our summer season of truly world-class art events. With the Jazztrax Music Festival in June, Artwalk and Art on the Lake in July and August and the Film Festival in September, Big Bear is fast developing a fast growing and vibrant arts landscape. I believe Big Bear Lake is another perfect west coast arts destination”
Big Bear Lake Arts… the art of summer! Join the fun at this year’s Artwalk Festival.
Mark White Larry Squires Cheryl Chapman
The Visual Arts Show and Sale takes place Saturday and Sunday in the BartlettEventsCenter. Admission and parking is free for the art show and music. This year’s festival show features fine art in painting, sculpture, mixed media, glass, ceramics and photography. Galleries in the Village will welcome visitors, and local artists will give demonstrations of their craft.
The full Artwalk Festival schedule is available at: www.bigbearlakeartwalk.com
Food and Drink at the Festival
The Beer and WineGarden (21 and over only) will feature Craft Beers from Hanger 24 Craft Brewery and Premium Wines by the glass. And for a true alpine gourmet experience, try something from the Sausage Garden Menu served up by Big Bear Lake’s fine dining and live entertainment legend, Black Diamond Tavern. Live music in the Wine Garden by Peggy Baldwin and Duke Michaels scheduled between the Main Stage Performances throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.
Gourmet Food Trucks will offer a variety of dishes for every taste and craving you might have. Food Trucks like the BACON MANia Truck and TJ’s Wood Fired Pizza will take their place in the Food Court area on the Festival Grounds.
Music on the Main Stage… and more
This year’s Festival introduces Live Music Performances by some extremely talented performing artists. From San Diego, CA The Midnight Pine (Folk, Soul, Blues) vocalist Shelbi Bennett, guitarist Sean Martin and percussionist/songwriter Al Howard. LA based indie/folk singer/songwriter Natalie Gelman will make a stop at the Artwalk while on her current US tour. Natalie will perform tracks from her just released EP, Streetlamp Musician. If Jazz is your thing, The Real Jazz Trio will perform some classic jazz improvisation, pianist Mike Cross, bassist Mark Cade, and percussionist Steve Boggio.
For all the Main Stage Performance times: Festival Main Stage Performance Times
Natalie Gelman Shakeh The Midnight Pine
Artist’s Reception
The festivities start on Friday evening with the Artwalk Artist’s reception from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The annual, invitation only event includes backyard grilled sandwiches, salads and desserts, drinks and live music entertainment by Shakeh and Brian Asher. Dress is casual summer.
Come out and have some fun, meet the 2013 Artwalk Artists and friends old and new at this casual gathering in the WineGarden at the BartlettEventsCenter.
Current ‘Gala Patron level Friends of the Festival’ members can obtain RSVP invitations to the event by contacting the Event Director, by email at artwalk2013@artsmda.org
Artist Georgeana Ireland. Georgana currently shows her work at The Gallery on Village Dr. Big Bear Lake, CA.
You can be a friend of the festival. For as little as $20, you can become a “Friend of the Festival” member, get even more out of your festival experience and support the festival’s year round 501c3 nonprofit mission of arts and education.
Arwalk Festival Sponsors
United Wood Craftsmen Gallery, Hanger 24 Craft Brewery, Black Diamond Tavern, Knickerbocker Mansion Country Inn, Bistro at the Mansion Restaurant, Arts Council of Big Bear Valley, ExploreBigBearLake.com, Le Dolce Vita Wine Room
Want to help out during the Big Bear Lake Summer Arts Events?
Whether your a full time Big Bear Lake resident or just want to make more of your time in the summer, enjoy the great Big Bear weather and alpine climate. Being part of the Summer Arts Events is a great experience.
The Village is a vibrant and exciting place to be during the Summer Arts Events Season and volunteers are needed to help with everything from food service in the wine garden to parking, security, information booth staffing, and even later in the season with the volunteer appreciation dinner and awards. To find out how you can help or join the Arts Council of Big Bear Valley, or to sign up as a volunteer at the Artwalk Festival, email director@artsmda.org.
Shopping has never been better than today in the shops and galleries at 
begin a rejuvenation project replacing worn sidewalks, curbs and outdated lighting for streets and sidewalks and replacing and extending landscaping throughout the Village. All the scheduled work is within the Village Improvement District and is funded by Big Bear Lake Improvement Agency (IA) Property Tax Increment Funds received by the City’s Improvement Agency in past years. The work will not require any new bonds, taxes or assessments to property owners anywhere in the city. Just recently the California Supreme Court upheld Governor Jerry Brown’s democratically supported abolishment of all Improvement Agencies and the possibility of any community in California funding this type of improvement through existing property tax assessments via Improvement Agencies.
The 2012 Village Improvement Project implements several of the specific desired improvements developed as part of the 
The VAD assesses properties on Village and Pine Knot a Per Lineal Foot assessment collected each year to pay for a share of the cost of maintenance, utilities and replacement of curbs, gutters, landscaping and lighting within the VAD. No increase in the current assessment is anticipated in regard to the 2012 Village Improvement Projects.
