The spirit of independent art was in the air at Allentown’s Cedar Beach Park on Saturday afternoon, where long-awaited (by some) brisk fall conditions didn’t stop the crowds from coming out to enjoy Day 2 of Allentown ArtsFest.

As I walked around and got a true feel for the festival — this was my first time visiting (I think Lisa went for us last year) — I noticed the vibe. It was a diverse one, with input from multiple cultures and sub-cultures. Emo, as presented brilliantly in full-band form by upcoming #LVUFirstFriday performer, theLionhearted, was just as prominent as hip hop — I was introduced to the stylings of Thouzand Floyd this afternoon, and happened upon GQ Nothin Pretty filming a music video a bit later.

That wasn’t all I experienced in my time at ArtsFest. Musically, I heard from indie rock trio, The Pavement., psych rock from Eirik Breininger and his trio, particularly enjoyed part of a captivating set from Brooklyn alt-jazz outfit Kleptokrat, and covered Native American folk for the first time in LVU’s history, thanks to Cemi Circle.

Aside from the music, I took in the graffiti murals by Cedar Creek (I was partial to the Hey Arnold! one depicted below — that show was my jam in 1997), and observed the many crafters and vendors on-hand showcasing their work. All of this and more — including an in-festival skate park — makes ArtsFest into perhaps the most eclectic festival the Valley experiences all year. For certain, I look forward to enjoying even more of it in 2018!

You can still enjoy a full Sunday at Cedar Beach Park, of course, just like you can take in the photos from my adventure. Enjoy!