10th annual Oliver Street Art Festival scheduled for Aug. 2

Project 308 Gallery to host art festival

Project 308 Gallery Press Release

The Project 308 Gallery proudly presents the 10th annual Oliver Street Art Festival, set to take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, on Oliver Street, between Schenck and Robinson streets, in North Tonawanda.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Oliver Street Art Festival is a cherished event in the Oliver Street neighborhood, proudly supporting regional artists within a burgeoning creative community. For one day only, this high-traffic block is transformed into a picturesque arts festival featuring more than 65 regional artist vendors, live music all day, local food, and family-friendly activities. Attendees can enjoy live music, indulge in delicious fare from a variety of vendors, and sample refreshments throughout the day. This vibrant festival is free and open to the public. Participating vendors work in a variety of media, including painting, photography, crafts and jewelry-making.

David and Jessica Moerler, owners of Lotus WoodCrafts, have participated in the festival since its first year.

“We upcycle and repurpose metal, wood and other materials to create furniture and art pieces,” David Moerler said. “We always enjoy being in this festival and look forward to this year’s event!”

Organized and hosted by Project 308 Gallery, the Oliver Street Art Festival transforms a block of Oliver Street into a celebration of regional artists and musicians, enriching the neighborhood through arts and culture.

“I am thrilled to host the festival for the 10th year on Oliver Street, and I hope the community continues to support the event,” said Natalie Brown, organizer, and owner of Plak Art Plus and Project 308 Gallery.

Established in August 2012, the gallery is dedicated to fostering a vibrant arts community by providing space for local artists to showcase their work and engage with the public. Located at 308 Oliver St., it serves as the cultural hub of the annual festival.

The Project 308 Gallery will feature an art exhibition titled “Yielding Form,” showcasing artwork by Sara Baker Michalak, Audrey Kay Dowling, and Barbara Murak.

Free activities for children, live music and more vendors can be found at The Old Chapel Antique & Artisan Market located nearby at 172 Robinson St. (corner of Oliver and Robinson).

“Our family-friendly venue serves as an extension of the festival by providing free games, a bounce house and other activities for all ages to enjoy,” said Jacob Wankasky, owner of The Old Chapel. “We enjoy partnering with the festival each year as we build the Oliver Street community.”

The festival proudly collaborates with local businesses and the Oliver Street Merchants Association to ensure the event reflects and supports the community’s needs.

“This seasoned and established art festival is essential to continued revitalization efforts on Oliver Street,” said Gabbie Richard, owner of the Vegan Grocery Store and vice president of the Oliver Street Merchants Association. “The festival contributes significantly to the positive reputation of our business corridor. As a business owner on the block, I’m always excited to participate – it brings vibrancy to the street and plenty of foot traffic to our sidewalks.”

In keeping with its grassroots spirit, artist vendor fees have never exceeded $50 since the festival’s inception. While all applications are reviewed to ensure the work is handmade, the festival is not juried and noncompetitive.

Festival partners include The Old Chapel Antique & Artisan Market, The Vegan Grocery Store, The Fish Place, Brando’s Pizza, and Flying Bison Brewing.

For those looking to volunteer, participate as a vendor, or for general questions, contact Brown at nataliebrown628@gmail.com or call 716-523-0068.