The Baltimore County Arts Guild presents the first Arts & Drafts Summer Music & Arts Festival on Friday, August 20 through Sunday August 22nd. The Guild is thrilled to officially partner with The Guinness Open Gate Brewery who will host the outdoor festival. A ticketed concert will kick off the weekend-long event at 7:30 pm on Friday, August 20th featuring Cris Jacobs and Kelly Bell Band. The Festival continues on Saturday and Sunday where guests are invited to experience more than 60 visual artists from the Baltimore area displaying and selling art work, glass blowing and other artisan demonstrations, an interactive creativity zone and continuing live musical performances. On Saturday and Sunday, the family-friendly event is free and open to the public, guests under the age of 21 must be accompanied by an adult.

Baltimore County Arts Guild President, Barbara Cox says;

“We’re excited to sponsor this event and to introduce some very talented emerging and experienced artists to our festival visitors.”

Arts & Drafts Weekend Line-Up

Friday, August 20th, 7:30 p.m.: Kickoff concert featuring Cris Jacobs and Kelly Bell Band (doors open at 6:30pm). Tickets are required ($20) and can be purchased at www.artsanddraftsfestival.org.

Saturday, August 21st, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Free Music & Arts Festival

Sunday, August 22nd, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Free Music & Arts Festival

Live music all weekend long at the Festival Stage will feature: The Aaron Hill Trio, RED SAMMY, Carl Grubbs, Jr. Geraldine, Sweet Leda with Ron Holloway and American Idol finalist, Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon.

Family-friendly creativity zone featuring:

A collaborative art project with the Baltimore County Arts Guild

Take-home ‘maker kits’ by Baltimore County Public Library

Musical instrument ‘petting zoo’ with Bill’s Music

Demonstrations, ongoing throughout the weekend, include glass blowing, pottery and Zentangle ®

Two special beers were brewed and will be released during the kickoff concert: Harmonic Haze and ArtBeat. Harmonic Haze is a twist on the brewery’s much loved Hazy IPA recipe with a 7% ABV. A classic American hop bill of El Dorado, Mosaic, and Amarillo, with a touch of Australian Galaxy hops were added with a tropical fruit kick. Local Baltimore artist Milan Wilkerson was commissioned for the creation of this beer label featuring colorful hops and a spray paint can. The beer is available on draft and in cans for purchase at the brewery or curbside pickup. ArtBeat is a crisp, floral 6% ABV ale utilizing both dried hibiscus and locally-sourced clover honey, creating an artful beer with a brilliant fuchsia hue. This ale is available on draft only.

For updates on the Festival and more from the Baltimore County Arts Guild, visit www.artsanddraftsfestival.org or follow @bcartsguild on Facebook and Instagram.  To learn more about the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, follow @GuinnessBreweryUS and @BCartsGuild on Facebook and Instagram and @GuinnessUS on Twitter or visit www.GuinnessBreweryBaltimore.com.

About the Baltimore County Arts Guild

The Baltimore County Arts Guild is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to fostering all aspects of the arts to the citizens of Baltimore County. The Guild supports experienced and emerging artists by providing affordable studio space in a collaborative and nurturing environment, and by promoting the work of musicians and artists through concerts, exhibits and programming at our arts center, The Clubhouse, in Catonsville, Maryland, as well as at venues countywide.