Spring Arts Festival happening this weekend in Ocean Springs

The City of Discovery is kicking off the new season with its annual Springs Arts and Crafts Festival.

The free festival takes place Saturday and Sunday with over 150 vendors registered. The festival is set up underneath the city’s live oak trees that are a canopy for many locally owned shops, galleries, and restaurants and will draw in thousands to their downtown area.

There will also be educational sessions and live art demonstrations in the parking lot of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Local vendors have been crafting for the busy weekend ahead. Heather Martin, owner of Ethotera, a new art studio on Porter Avenue in Ocean Springs, has been working non-stop to ensure she’ll have enough pieces.

Peter Anderson was the last festival she participated in and sold out completely.

Not only are these festivals great at moving inventory, but also showcasing what local artists have to offer.

Martin stresses that when you go to a festival like this and buy an artist’s work, you’re supporting their dreams in exchange for a one-of-a-kind piece. “People put a lot of time and energy into their work and you buy online from Amazon, you’re not going to get the quality. You’re not going to get the passion. Me personally, I’d rather buy something from somebody that took time, energy, and love to create it.”

The Spring Arts Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.