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Keeping it fresh for 59 years! Paint Creek Center for the Arts announces return of annual Art & Apples Festival® on September 5-7; Genisys Credit Union continues as presenting sponsor

Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA) announces the annual Art & Apples Festival®, the nonprofit community arts organization’s signature event, will take place September 5–7 at the sprawling Rochester Municipal Park, near downtown Rochester. Now in its 59th year, the event boasts more than 250 juried artists and artisans, food vendors with creative fare including pies and other apple-themed treats, a kid’s art zone and play area, and a variety of musical acts throughout the three-day festival that attracts more than 60,000 guests.   
 
Paint Creek Center for the Arts Executive Director Shaun Hayes says the goal is always to keep the festival fresh to draw both new and returning visitors.
 
“Among our 250+ juried art exhibitors – selected from nearly 450 applications - we continue to maintain just the right mix of new artists with returning artists,” Hayes said. “The key is for a balance of both – attracting new festival goers who want to experience Art & Apples for the first time because they are intrigued by the mix of artists and art mediums, and those who return because they have artist favorites from previous years and want to shop for additional purchases from them.”  
 
This year’s Art & Apples Festival® occurs as the organization continues its strategic efforts to create and support initiatives that bring art into the community in new ways.
 
“As Paint Creek Center for the Arts works each year to keep the Art & Apples Festival® relevant and engaging, we are also aiming to broaden appreciation for art in the community setting,” Hayes said. “We expanded our participation in the Rochester DDA’s longstanding deck art program – popular with budding young artists – by exhibiting 23 skateboard decks in our gallery this year, up from six last year. We also recently launched our Free Little Art Gallery, similar to little libraries found in neighborhoods, which invites people to take and leave small pieces of art for their enjoyment.”
 
Paint Creek Center for the Arts’ initial support of plein air (in the open air) artists – artists who create their art outdoors in public spaces – has also expanded from five plein air artists in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic to 80 artists now. They will be present again this year at the festival, further highlighting how art in the community is accessible for all.
 
Festival offerings include unique artwork, handmade keepsakes, and distinctive home goods available to purchase; live stage entertainment from community music and dance groups as well as local musicians; food trucks and tents offering a wide array of food options from classic American fare to Mediterranean to Asian street food, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options; the Meijer Kids Art Zone offering children’s art activities; and the Creation Station featuring live art-making demonstrations, including Ervin Glassworks.
 
Updates to the 2025 Art & Apples Festival®:

  1. A new partnership with Rochester Avon Parks and Recreation (RARA) will keep the Meijer Kids Art Zone fresh, fun and engaging for kids, with art creation stations, play areas, inflatables, games, entertainment and other activities for the youngest festivalgoers.   
  2. New entertainment plus returning festival favorites will take the stage – schedule details to come.  
  3. All new food vendors will offer an apple-themed product on their menu. Of course, apple pies will be in abundance, thanks to the efforts of local Boy Scout troops!
 
Free shuttle transportation to/from Rochester High School will be entirely provided by OPC Social & Activity Center’s transportation services with wheelchair lift-equipped buses for accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
 
PCCA is continually recognized for the caliber of fine art the organization presents to the community.  PCCA was named HOUR Detroit Magazine’s Best Art Gallery for 2025 and Best After School Program for 2025, in addition to being a 2025 HOUR Detroit Finalist for Best Art Fair and Best Place to Buy Art. Additionally, the Art & Apples Festival consistently lands on the Top 200 list of Fine Art and Design show listings by Sunshine Artist magazine as judged by artist profitability from the Festival.  
 
Art & Apples serves as PCCA’s signature fundraiser to support the nonprofit organization’s art classes for kids and adults, free art exhibitions, the Art Market exclusively featuring local Michigan artists’ work, summer camps, and community outreach through its Art Anywhere program. A suggested $5 donation per person will be accepted at each of the festival’s entrances; in turn, PCCA shares a portion of these donations with the other area nonprofits and community ‘gate groups’ greeting festivalgoers.
PCCA expresses its sincere appreciation to Genisys Credit Union for its ongoing commitment as presenting sponsor.
 
"A time-honored tradition of our community, Art & Apples is a vibrant celebration of art where community members and artists connect," Jackie Buchanan, President & CEO of Genisys Credit Union, said. "The festival's dedication to keeping art fresh and engaging embodies a great sense of community spirit. We look forward to a successful 59th year of celebrating art and community with PCCA."
 
There are still a variety of sponsorship packages available for organizations that want to support this community celebration of art. For more information, please visit the Art & Apples sponsorship page on the website, call PCCA at 248-651-4110, or email Shaun Hayes at Shaun@PCCArt.org.  
 
Art & Apples will open on Friday, September 5 from 2 p.m.–7 p.m. in Rochester Municipal Park and continue on Saturday, September 6 from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday, September 7 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Note to attendees that a city ordinance forbids dogs at the festival.
 
About Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA) is a regional nonprofit art center located in Downtown Rochester. PCCA is supported, in part, by contributions from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. PCCA’s mission is to build on our rich heritage of leading creativity in our community by providing opportunities for all to learn, create, and support creativity by providing opportunities for all to learn, create, experience and appreciate the arts. Learn more at pccart.org.

 
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