ArtBeat - weekend-long arts festival Somerville, MA

When the Boston area gets humid and hot, Somerville, MA holds a
weekend-long arts festivals that draws artists, crafters, and creative
people from all around. The festival happens the third weekend in July;
the Somerville Arts Council website
posts updates as festival-time gets closer. Each year ArtBeat has a
theme; past themes have included RED and WATER. Mingle with college
students, local, and families at this weekend-long festival. Boston is
home to two art schools, so don't be surprised to see student work on
display.

If the 2011 festival was any indication, expect a dozen
bands, dance troops, and hoop troops performing live in Davis Square.
Artists and crafters will have booths where they're selling their wares,
making ArtBeat the perfect place to pick up a special handmade gift for
a special someone. There's also a festival plaza full of street food,
such as Indian food, Korean food, or barbecue.

This photo of Somerville is courtesy of TripAdvisor

ArtBeat
concludes with a parade. The 2011 festival included a giant red (of
course!) luck dragon that was paper machied (with volunteer help!) in
the Davis Square plaza. Everything at ArtBeat (except your food and any
purchases you make) is completely free and open to the public. Bands
perform on outdoor parks and plazas just a short walk from the main fair
at Davis Square. If you're road tripping on a budget, you can picnic in
the park while the bands play. Explore photos from the 2011 ArtBeat here. Artisans and enterprising students, find out how you can hawk your wares on your road trip here.

You'll
find plenty of local cafes, shops, thrift stores, and restaurants in
Davis Square to tempt you away from the fair. ArtBeat takes place in the
city of Somerville, just a ten-minute subway ride from the Harvard
University campus and a 20-minute subway ride from downtown Boston.

Article by Lindsay