Music from a Prince cover band wafted across Lake of the Isles and Bde Maka Ska, beckoning neighbors and visitors to the reborn Uptown Art Fair.
“Art on the Isles,” hosted by the Uptown Association, brought more than 200 artists, interactive art activities, live music and food trucks to the south side of Lake of the Isles and east along Lagoon Avenue.
Celebrating the 60th Uptown Art Fair, the association has committed to reinvesting half of the event’s net proceeds in the Uptown area.
The return marks another step in rebuilding an event disrupted since 2020, when the pandemic and street construction forced its cancellation. In later years a smaller version moved to Bachman’s under a new name.
“Sunshine helped draw crowds who wandered the lakeside venue, browsed artists’ booths and enjoyed live music.”
This year’s fair featured fewer artists than the sprawling pre-pandemic events, with many of them from Minnesota and neighboring states. Organizers estimated weekend attendance at 200,000. Sunshine helped draw crowds who wandered the lakeside venue, browsed artists’ booths and enjoyed live music.
“The return of the Uptown Art Fair is about more than art.”
Nearby businesses benefited as well. Restaurants such as Lake & Irving saw an increase in patrons.
The return of the Uptown Art Fair is about more than art. Along with efforts such as the Uptown Farmers Market, it is helping bring people back to an area working to regain its footing.
Courtney Cushing Kiernat is a regular contributor. She lives in Kenwood.
