The sidewalks of Mill Avenue will be covered from University Drive to Fifth Street by more than 450 artists selling and presenting their work to the public in what has become a nearly 40-year tradition for Tempe.
The Tempe Festival of the Arts begins today and runs from 10:30 a.m. until dusk through Saturday and Sunday.
"This is the 36th year of the festival, and in that sense it brings tradition to the Valley," said festival spokeswoman Jessica Buchanan. "We're not a state that's necessarily known for cultural history."
Exhibits will include artwork ranging from traditional paintings to the non-traditional woodwork, photography, ceramics and clothing. The pieces of art will be available for both exhibition and purchase.
Psychology freshman Jessie Nahom said she would like to attend the event.
Though the typical festival patrons are not college students, according to Buchanan, Nahom said the festival would interest ASU students. Buchanan said the typical patron would be a woman in her late 30s who owns a home and has a college degree.
"Art is something I'm interested in, I love going to galleries and art museums," she said. "I think it would still appeal to a good number [of students], I mean not everybody, obviously, is interested in art."
Buchanan said the festival also offers competitive judging for artists featured in both an overall category and individual medium categories.
The festival, she said, is one of the top 20 in the United States and attracts people from across Arizona and the nation.
"It brings people into Tempe who wouldn't normally be here," Buchanan said.
Buchanan said she expects the festival to attract 225,000 people during the three days and will offer guests more than art exhibits.
"Not only do they get to browse and even buy some of the art, there are a lot of different entertainment options," she said.
Casino Arizona's Showstoppers Live entertainment will be at the festival for the first time, featuring Elvis and the Temptations.
Also new this year is Book Street, located near Tempe City Hall, which will have books for sale and local and national authors who will speak, answer questions and sign autographs.
Pre-business freshman Andrew Karp said he would be stopping by this weekend to look at some of the exhibits.
He said the festival could help give Tempe an artistic edge that he wouldn't normally associate with the area.
"I've visited Scottsdale, and I've seen how influenced by art it is," Karp said. "It would be interesting to see where everyone is coming from."
Reach the reporter at rkost@asu.edu.
