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ALPENA — Bay View Park will become an outdoor gallery when the 49th annual Art on the Bay returns Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19.
The open-air fine art and craft show will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 19. The event will take place at Bay View Park, at the corner of State Avenue and Prentiss Street in Alpena. Admission is free, and the show is open to the public.
More than 100 vendors are expected to take part, including fine artists, craftspeople and food vendors. Visitors can meet the artists, learn how their work is made and shop for original art and handcrafted items.
Art on the Bay is a juried show. Artists and craftspeople must have their work reviewed before they are accepted. The process helps keep the show focused on quality artwork and handmade goods.
The show began in 1977 and is celebrating its 49th anniversary in 2026. Over nearly five decades, it has grown into an important summer tradition for artists, residents and visitors. Downtown Alpena describes Art on the Bay as the city’s oldest and largest art fair.
Art on the Bay is presented by the Thunder Bay Arts Council. The organization grew from a national movement during the 1970s to build greater support for the arts. Educators from Northeast Michigan played an important role in its early development. The council continues to support visual art, music and other cultural programs throughout the region.
The show is also held during the opening weekend of the Michigan Brown Trout Festival, which runs July 17-26. Together, the events bring art, food, fishing and entertainment to Alpena’s Lake Huron shoreline and downtown area.
Art on the Bay will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at Bay View Park in Alpena. More information is available from the Thunder Bay Arts Council.
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