ART

Commonwheel Artists Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival is a three-day weekend event filled with exceptionally high quality artwork, talented musicians and fabulous food. For 37 years Commonwheel Artists Co-op has helped create an awareness of American-made original Fine Arts & Crafts. Take a trip to historic Manitou Springs where you can experience 100+ artists booths filled with handmade artistic creations in Manitou Springs’ beautiful Memorial park.
A jury of professional artists chooses the artists that will attend. Only the finest handcrafted work created by the artists that will be present at the Festival is accepted. Come meet the creator of the art or craft you purchase to grace your home or body.
Enjoy a wide variety of exotic and familiar fun foods in the 10 food booths you will find in a tree-shaded food court. The food booths are diverse and offer some tasty treats rarely found at other festivals.
Enjoy live entertainment all day long on our stage area. The line-up of original music by local performers offers a variety of styles that will fit everyone’s musical tastes. Art and music patrons can sit and listen to their favorite entertainer while enjoying a tasty treat or listen as they wander the booths filled with fine art and contemporary crafts.

Stimulate your child’s creative side when they experience various fun art activities around the Park. At our Kid’s Art Activities Booth children are invited to explore their creative side with a hands-on art project or have their faces painted. Kids of all ages will enjoy watching “Magic Man” twist up some fun balloon creatures. Jim Jackson from the MAT lets kids add color to the air by creating giant bubbles. These activities introduce children to art in fun and exciting ways and encouraging them to make it a part of their lives forever.

The Commonwheel Arts Festival is anticipated by local patrons all along the Front Range as their favorite place to find high quality art and fine crafts to decorate their homes or wear as an expression of their unique style. Visitors arrive early Saturday morning to find the best items that are offered by their past favorite artisans. Or discover new artists that bring their unique talents to add to the diversity of arts and crafts found at the Festival. When you mix Holiday shopping with an enjoyable stroll in the Park filled with fine arts & crafts, while listening to original music it makes finding the perfect gift a joy. And you will know each gift will be unique and please your art appreciating friends and family members.

Many local businesses have donated art, entertainment or dining prizes for our free prize drawing at the Info Booth.
Since the Festival starts at 10 a.m. it is ideal for the crowds attending the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic to make a day of it. They can come over after the last balloons have disappeared in the blue Colorado sky and enjoy our live music, have lunch at a table in the food court, or stroll among the beautiful booths by the shady creek.
But don’t come too late, we have changed our hours and are closing at 5:00 pm this year.
Our Food vendors, sponsors and many community volunteers are working with Commonwheel to create a 100% Waste-Free Event. Learn more at the Sustainable Booth.