The annual Edina Art Fair marks the unofficial beginning of summer for many residents in the Twin Cities. As the first large art fair of the season in Minnesota, it’s a way for attendees to get outside while enjoying fine art, music, food and shopping. For these and so many other reasons, this event was greatly missed the past two years when it was on a hiatus due to COVID-19.
However, the Edina Art Fair is back June 3–5, marking the 55th anniversary of this beloved event. Running along the border of Edina and Minneapolis, art fair vendors and activities span the blocks surrounding the intersection of 50th and France.
“As an iconic event for the city of Edina and the region as a whole, its return really feels like the welcome back party for the community, public life and the arts that we all have been needing after the last two years of the pandemic,” says Max Musicant, interim director of the 50th and France Business & Professional Association.
“We’re excited to bring back what is cherished about the event from years past and introduce a number of innovations that we think will provide an even better experience for visitors and artists alike,” he says.
This year there will be a renewed focus on celebrating local. “We know the blend of national and local artists is a big part of what makes the Edina Art Fair special,” Musicant says. “This year, we are building on that by also intentionally supporting local artists that reflect the full diversity of our region. You’ll see this through the launch of an emerging artist program that spotlights three local emerging artists who have been making strides and breaking barriers with their work.”
Along with new local artistic vendors, longtime participants are also returning. Edina resident Marti Johnson, a jewelry maker, has participated in the Edina Art Fair for almost 30 years. “The customers have been very consistent over the years,” Johnson says. “That’s why it [has] become a sought-after art fair to participate in.”
She spent much of those 30 years not only as a vendor but as an advisor, helping expand the event from a local craft fair to the nationally recognized fine arts fair it has become.
In addition to a focus on local artists, there will be an emphasis on local food vendors and musicians. Businesses in the 50th and France neighborhood will also get some love. Since the last fair, many new shops and restaurants have joined the neighborhood—including 16 new retailers in the Nolan Mains residential and retail area—offering fair attendees plenty to explore.
If you’re new to the art fair, you can expect to experience more than 250 artistic vendors, two beer and wine gardens, a live music stage, food trucks, a kid’s zone and local restaurant and business specials.
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