BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - This weekend marks the 62nd annual Allentown Art Festival.
The annual free art festival will feature more than 340 vendors displaying all sorts of art including pictures, paintings, glassware, jewelry, pottery, and more.
"Some will be wandering around and singing and some will be set up in different areas throughout the show," she said.
Harrington-Lippman advises anyone visiting the parade this weekend to get there early and park in the ramps closer to Tupper. Many public parking spots near where the festival is will inaccessible as early as Friday morning.
"People should come down and really look at the architecture in Buffalo, it's absolutely beautiful," she added. "Especially, I think, on Virginia and Franklin. It's a great experience."
Proceeds from the Allentown Art Festival go directly back into the community. The organization is partnered with multiple children's programs in the area including the Albright Knox Art Gallery, Burchfield Penney Art Center, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Harrington-Lippman said the art festival began in 1958 as an effort to promote merchants in the Allentown neighborhood.
"Apparently back in the 70's it was huge and kind of a hippie fest," she explained. "Things got a little bit out of hand and the city said you've got to reign this in. That's why it became a juried art festival because it was too big. They had to condense it a little bit and make it much more organized. We've very well organized and we're ready for people to come down...It's a great event."
Buffalo Police will be on patrol during this weekend's festivities. Buffalo Fire and Twin Cities Ambulance will also be there for emergencies.
The Allentown Art Festival goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. You can find more information about it by clicking HERE.
