by Juanita Canzoneri

Since 2009 we have been working to lessen our Art Festival's  environmental impact. Partnering with Transition Town Manitou Springs and Pikes Peak Permaculture has made a huge impact on our Zero Waste Event.

“A Transition town, or more generally a transition initiative, is a grassroot community project that seeks to build resilience in response to peak oil, climate destruction, and economic instability by creating local groups that uphold the values of the transition network.” Wikipedia

Last year we diverted 70% of the trash and waste generated by our event away from landfills. Our ultimate goal is 100%. We may not get there this year, but we’re working toward it.

The term we use most often is that we work to make our festival a “sustainable” event.

sus·tain·a·ble defined:
1. pertaining to a system that maintains its own viability by using techniques that allow for continual reuse
2. capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage: sustainable development

To that end Transition Town Manitou Springs and their volunteers help to sort waste into the proper bins. We make sure that our food vendors supply only plates/cups/cutlery that is compostable.

We ask our patrons to bring their own water bottles and reusable shopping bags. We also have reusable shopping bags for sale at the Information Booth.

If you would like to volunteer to help with these efforts, please contact us. Transition Town has 3-4 hour slots available all weekend long. 

Once again art patrons and music lovers can enjoy one day, or all three, at the Commonwheel Labor Day Art Festival in Manitou Springs. Back for the first time in 2 years at its much-loved Memorial Park.

Commonwheel’s Art Festival not only features beautiful and affordable arts and crafts, it brings together some of the finest original local musicians the Pikes Peak region has to offer.

Come listen and dance to a variety of talented local musicians on Labor Day Weekend. These outdoor mini-concerts are free to enjoy. Sarah Hope, of “Edith Makes a Paper Chain”, has created a unique line-up of talented musicians performing many original and unique styles of music: Jazz, Reggae, Americana, Vintage Pop, Country, Rock, Folk, Bluegrass, Gypsy, Bossa Nova and much more. Whatever style of music you prefer, you’ll find it here.

We’ve set up the park so you can take a break from art shopping and dance to your favorite local band. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes to spend a day, or three, dancing and listening to innovative local musicians playing in Manitou Springs’ Memorial Park. 

Food vendors from near and far will be offering a variety of tasty dishes and drinks. And a local craft brewery will top off the unique offerings to be found at this year’s art festival.

We’re starting the weekend with Ryan Flores (of Moonhoney) Latin guitar to get your mojo moving. “Barrel House String Band” and “Woodshed Red” liven up the middle of Saturday’s music schedule with Bluegrass and Americana tunes.

A couple of favorite dancing bands including “Wild Hares” followed by “Rough Age” will be playing music to get you moving to the groove on Sunday afternoon.

The Festival’s music lineup includes many local favorites including “Me and Julio” and “Tiny Chariots”. On Monday afternoon, “Mo Mungus” will close the Art Festival with Reggae.

This Labor Day weekend, make plans to visit Manitou Springs and “Celebrate the Arts” in its many styles and forms!

Walk into an artist’s booth and engage your imagination by chatting with the person who created each piece of art displayed.

Stimulate your child’s creativity as they join in the fun creating masks and other art projects at the free Kids’ Art Activities Booth.

Check out our website: www.commonwheel.com/festival, where you can discover an updated music schedule, which artists will be displaying, parking and transportation recommendations, and menus describing what will be on offer in the food court.

Admission is always free to Commonwheel’s 41st Labor Day Art Festival!

2015 Festival Entertainment Schedule (Line-up is subject to change. Check for updates at www.Commonwheel.com/Festival.)

Saturday Sept 5th
10:00-11:00 am - Ryan Flores (Of Moonhoney: Gypsy, Latin Folk)
11:15 am-12:15 pm - A Pick, A Stick and A Chick (Jazz)
12:30-1:30 pm – Eric Roberts (Bossa Nova)
1:45-2:45 pm - Barrel Street String Band (Bluegrass, Country, Folk)
3:00-4:00 pm - Woodshed Red (Blue Grass, Americana)
4:15-5:00 pm – Blue Frog (New Grass, Rock, Americana)

Sunday Sept 6th
10:00-11:00 am - First String (Classical & Tango)
11:15 am-12:00 pm - Trisha Parish (Singer, Songwriter)
12:15-12:45 pm - Wild Hares (Rock)
1:00-2:00 pm - Rough Age (Alt Pop)
2:15-3:15 pm - Redraw the Farm (Americana)
3:30-5:00 pm - Family Elephant (Alt Country, Bluegrass, Roots Rock)

Monday Sept 7th
10:00-11:00 am - Lyndsay & Jeremy Facknitz (Singer, Songwriters)
11:15 am-12:15 pm - Tiny Chariots (Alt Folk)
12:30-1:00 pm - Mizmar Madness
1:00 pm-2:00 pm - Me and Julio (Latin)
2:15-3:15 - Whitesell & Braithwaite (Harmonic Pop Classic & Originals)
3:30-5:00 pm - Mo Mungus (Rock Steady, Reggae) 

Entertainment Coordinator: Sarah Hope
Sound System Provided by KRCC
Sound Managed by Thos Lesser

Commonwheel Artists 41st Annual Labor Day Art Festival is the perfect end-of-summer festival where you can “Celebrate the Arts” in all their diverse forms! We are excited to announce the Art Festival’s return to its traditional home park. The 2015 art festival will once again be held in Manitou Springs, Memorial Park.

Over 100 juried artists will be displaying at the oldest three-day art festival held in the Pikes Peak region.

We have high standards when jurying for this event. Prices for the artwork displayed in Manitou’s Memorial Park range from extremely affordable to high-end original art and include wearable items, pottery, jewelry and much more. Patrons are sure to find something that will suit their style.

We have potters presenting functional, decorative, and sculptural pottery and glass artists displaying panels, décor, and jewelry to brighten the eye and the home.

We have sculptors with work from small and whimsical to large and realistic forms and painters with canvases ranging from realistic to abstract. 

Our jewelers work with silver, copper and gold to create jewelry in many styles. Some incorporate semi-precious stones and gemstones into their designs while others do intricate beading. Find the perfect gift for that special someone, even if that someone is you!

Don’t forget that the Holidays are just a few weeks away! There is so much art to explore and we have handmade gifts that are sure to be perfect for someone on your holiday gift list.

Engage your imagination by chatting with artists who have created each piece of art displayed in their booths. Learn about the processes and inspiration incorporated in many styles of art that we’ve juried into this year’s Commonwheel Art Festival. 

Check out our web page to get a sneak peek the work represented by this year’s artists. A preview of artists who were juried into this art festival can be found on our web site at: www.commonwheel.com/festival.

This is a family friendly festival. Stimulate your child’s creativity as they join in the fun at the free Kids’ Art Activities Booth. MAT will have a place for them to create colorful giant bubbles that dance in the air. On Sunday and Monday, Dwayne Faux will be creating balloon creatures before their wondering eyes. Inspire your children to reach their artistic potential when you introduce them to the many forms of art when walking through the artists’ booths.

Put on your dancing shoes and spend a day, or three, dancing (or listening) to innovative local musicians playing free mini-concerts in Manitou Springs Memorial Park. All three days you can enjoy a variety of musical styles: Jazz, Reggae, Americana, Vintage Pop, Country, Rock, Folk, Bluegrass, Gypsy, Bossa Nova and much more. Whatever style is your favorite, you’ll find it here. Check out this year’s fabulous music line-up at: http://commonwheel.com/festival/

The food vendors lined up will offer both unique and standard festival fare. There will something to please every appetite from vegetarian to carnivores. If you like international foods, we will have Thai, Hawaiian, and Greek foods on offer.

There are many ways to quench your thirst. Past favorites, including strawberry lemonade and old-fashioned root beer, are joined this year with new offerings that include a few for adults only. Over 21 art patrons can enjoy a cold craft beer or glass of wine in the Pikes Brewery Beer Garden directly across from the Stage.

This Labor Day Weekend, bring the whole family to enjoy a day, or all three, in historic Manitou Springs where Memorial Park will be filled with beautiful art and original music created by over 100 artisans and many local musicians.

FREE admission and FREE Parking make this a very affordable way to spend your Labor Day Weekend. Get Your Art Here!