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Bowling Green, is known for largely-popular events throughout the year; two of the biggest are the annual National Tractor Pull Championship at the Wood County fairgrounds and the huge yet polar-opposite event in the heart of BG’s downtown, the Black Swamp Arts Festival. This year’s fest takes place from September 11th through the 13th. Whether you’ve attended the event before or not, this year has many reasons for you to check it out.
The arts fest is a long-standing tradition in the college town of Bowling Green, starting in 1993 and growing more popular each year since. The entire downtown intersection of Wooster and Main Street is shut down to allow art vendors to set up shop in hopes of selling some pieces, winning the art competition or just connecting with members of the community. They also turn a parking lot into a premium music venue, showcasing artists of varying styles and genres, along with food vendors sure to have a new or beloved carnival treat to enjoy.
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Together for the sake of art
Many in the arts community have given their time and talent year after year to volunteer and make the festival the best it can be. One festival tradition involves a local artist being selected to design the poster for the festival each year; congratulations to graphic designer Taylor Vanek for creating this year’s poster. Traditions like that keep people coming back, enjoying and working with the fest year after year.
Two people involved with putting the festival together have attended nearly 2 decades worth of events between them and are excited to host this year’s festival. Carmen Cano is the marketing co-chair of the festival, who is working on a 7th festival and chairperson Jamie Richards began working the festival in 2014. The sense of community and the desire to share it with others keep people coming back year after year.
Music and creation in BG
This year for the arts part of the festival, various styles and types of art will be on display. In the juried art competition, locals have submitted everything from jewelry and sculptures to paintings and quilts to show off their artistic prowess. “[The festival] brings people together to celebrate and support the arts,” explained Richards. “BSAF gives over $14,000 away annually in artist awards, college scholarships, and high school arts and music program awards.” Non-competition artists also fill the streets during the festival, showing off their goods for purchase and helping community members of all ages make their own art.
As for the music side, year after year people who attend the festival walk away with a new favorite band, as Cano confirmed: “I like discovering new music and I’ve definitely found some great bands through Black Swamp Arts Festival. Our Performing Arts crew really does a great job selecting artists from a variety of genres that really get the crowd going.” Friday will host headliners Silverada and Magoo and Saturday will have music all day, capping off with Black Joe Louis and the Honeybears and The Motet.
“This is going to sound like a cop out, but I love the energy of downtown Bowling Green during the festival,” conceded Cano. “Everyone is there to have a good time and you can feel it in the air.” If for whatever reason you’ve never experienced the Black Swamp Arts festival for yourself, take some time to head down to Bowling Green this year and see why people are so dedicated to making this festival happen year after year.
Black Swamp Arts Festival in Bowling Green, OH Sept. 11th, 12th and 13th.
Free to attend, more information can be found at blackswampfest.org.
