New Kensington will host a new art festival, Spring Fest, on May 9.
Michelle Thom, Voodoo Brewing manager and Olde Towne Overhaul operations manager, said the new festival will be similar to Fridays on Fifth, but instead of being food-focused, the purpose is to engage with local art and creatives.
“This community is very involved in the arts,” Thom said. “There’s a lot of creative people in the city of New Kensington — it’s a great community to be involved in.”
Fifth Avenue will be lined with art vendors’ tables and food trucks from 2 to 8 p.m.
The festival is being organized by Voodoo Brewing, Strange Roots Experimental Ales, Vinci Winery and New Kensington’s redevelopment authority.
Thom said she and other organizers wanted to do something new and different than what was already offered in the downtown festival scene.
Tony Vigilante, co-owner of Strange Roots, said this festival will have three live bands performing — a change from Friday’s on Fifth’s usual one band performance.
He said he thinks the crowd for Spring Fest could be similar to this season’s first Fridays on Fifth which was one of the busiest so far.
“We had a beautiful night on Friday,” he said.
Thom said there will be 10 food trucks and about 15 art vendors, including Burgh Crafted, LuluZ Design and Chisel and Lathe Woodworking.
Vigilante said he’s hoping it will draw more foot traffic to downtown businesses.
“It’s nice to get people downtown on a different day,” he said.
The festival is open to the public and does not require a ticket.
“With the art vendors added, it will bring out a different crowd of people,” Thom said.