137 artists will fill Kansas City streets for Art Westport. Here’s your festival guide

Joseph Hernandez

Over 130 local artists will flock to Westport this weekend for Art Westport. For the 42nd year, Westport will shut down the roads for you to see countless art booths and tents over Westport’s streets and businesses.

From paintings and sculptures to glasswork and jewelry, Kansas City’s local arts scene will be on full display from Friday through Sunday.

Lexie Herb, the special events manager with Westport, said the number of artists they have participating in Art Westport is the largest in years. “Best in Show” for 2021’s event, Christopher Dowdy is one of the artists you’ll be able to see on the streets, along with 2021 first place winner Shawanna Meeks and second place winner Genevieve Hamel.

“Everybody’s super excited for (Art Westport),” Herb said. “It’ll be a fun weekend in the streets of Westport.”

Art Westport opens at these times over the weekend:

  • Friday: 3 to 9 p.m.

  • Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

  • Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Herb is hoping for some overlap between Art Westport visitors and people heading down to Westport to watch the Chiefs play the Arizona Cardinals at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is free for all and street parking will be open in the area. Westport Road will be blocked off from Mill Street to Broadway Boulevard, as well as Pennsylvania Avenue.

Two women looking at some of the art on display at “Art Westport.” The art fair is back for its 42nd year.
Two women looking at some of the art on display at “Art Westport.” The art fair is back for its 42nd year.

WHAT TYPE OF ART IS ON DISPLAY?

With over 130 artists from Kansas City coming to Westport, you’ll have a mix of artwork to walk by, experience and purchase. These types of art will be on hand throughout the entertainment district:

  • Ceramics

  • Digital art

  • Drawing

  • Fiber

  • Glass

  • Jewelry

  • Metal

  • Mixed media

  • Painting

  • Photography

  • Printmaking

  • Sculpture

  • Wood

Art Westport will also have a section dedicated to emerging artists in the city, highlighting new creators in the Kansas City art scene:

ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES ART?

As you’re browsing through the art booths, live music will be playing in the background on Friday and Saturday. Two stages: the main stage on Westport Road between Jerusalem Café and Pickleman’s, and the South Pennsylvania Avenue Stage, located in front of Atomic Provisions on Pennsylvania Avenue, will feature local performances.

Friday:

  • Tim Reid Jr. from 4 to 8 p.m. on the South Pennsylvania Avenue Stage

  • 2 Proud 2 Beg from 6 to 10 p.m. on the main stage

Saturday:

  • Waldo Jazz Collective, 4 to 8 p.m. at the South Pennsylvania Avenue Stage

  • 2 Proud 2 Beg from 6 to 10 p.m. on the main stage

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