Top 10 fun things to do at The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Come see The Woodlands Waterway transformed into an outdoor art gallery at the 2018 Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, this Saturday and Sunday, April 7 & 8.

This juried fine art show, presented by The Woodlands Arts Council, takes place along the scenic banks of The Waterway and in Town Green Park in Town Center. Here are the top 10 things to do at this spectacular art happening!

1. Meet the Artists and Buy Their Art! With over 200 fine artists displaying art in a wide variety of mediums, including painting, drawing, jewelry, pottery, wood, mixed media 2D and 3D, clayworks, digital, glass, fabric, metalworks, sculpture and print making, this is the perfect opportunity to start your art collection or add to it. Meet Featured Artist Erin Hanson and admire her breathtaking paintings!

2. Get the VIP Treatment! The Terrace Hospitality Club includes a two-day festival commemorative pass, a tented, relaxing oasis near the stage, small bites and refreshments, VIP parking, and valet service for art purchases, all for only $75. Enrich your festival experience while you support the community and the education outreach programs of The Woodlands Arts Council.

3. Enjoy the Performing Arts! Enjoy listening to live music from gifted local and regional performers on four different stages while leisurely browsing the wonderful selection of fine art. There’s plenty of fun for all ages at the Palette Café, Watercolor Terrace, Art & Culture and Craft Beer stages throughout the festival grounds.

4. Help Your Kids Create and Collect Art! At Artopoly, a popular venue at the festival, kids can create their own art projects led by The Woodlands Children's Museum and other local arts organizations. They can also start their own art collection by selecting a piece of student art for only $5 at the Early Inspiration Gallery. The art is generously donated by the festival’s sponsorship students and teachers.

5. Eat, Drink & Be Merry! At The Art of Food Tent, you can enjoy cooking demonstrations and sample mouth-watering sensations created by local chefs. And at The Palette Café and around the festival grounds, you can savor delicious food from a variety of food vendors and local restaurants and pair it with a delightful Stella Artois, or a selection of fine wines and craft beers.

6. Know That You Are Making a Difference – Revenues from each year’s festival are used by The Woodlands Arts Council to award over $20,000 in scholarships to high school student artists, and enable the Council to create meaningful art experiences for senior adults, students in local Title I schools, and people with special needs and circumstances.

7. Experience Art & Culture of Montgomery County – A gathering of county-wide talent will be on hand at the Art & Culture of Montgomery County Stage in Town Green Park. Watch these talented artists while they immerse themselves in the creative process. You might even consider joining one of these fun, local groups.

8. Shop for Great Gifts at The Market – You’ll want to shop for artsy and colorful t-shirts, hats, posters, note cards and other fun and fashion forward gifts for family, friends and of course, yourself!!

9. Volunteer – If you love art and The Woodlands, you’ll love volunteering at the festival. Work a shift and come back for free to do #1-8 on this list! In return, you will receive free entry into the festival and a commemorative t-shirt. Sign up to volunteer on the Council’s website, www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.org.

10. Discover Why The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is Among the Best Fine Arts Festivals in the Country! - For only $15, you can purchase weekend passes online now at www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.org. There are special discounts for senior adults, and children 12 and under are admitted free. Hours for the festival are 10 am – 6 pm on Saturday, April 7 and 10 am – 5 pm on Sunday, April 8.

Major sponsors of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival 2018 include Visit The Woodlands, Howard Hughes Corporation, Stella Artois, MD Anderson Cancer Center and The Woodlands Compounding Pharmacy.