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Artspire makes plans for one-day festival in downtown La Crosse this summer

Published

1 year ago

January 12, 2023

Brad Williams

It may still be the middle of winter in La Crosse, but people are busy making plans for summer and outdoor activities.

The city arts board Thursday approved a $10,000 grant for the Artspire festival, which happens downtown.

Pump House interim director Allison Krzych told the board that Artspire is building its way back to what the event was like before COVID in 2020, when the art fair was cancelled.

A large chalk drawing on King Street was a feature of the 2021 Artspire in La Crosse.

Artspire started in La Crosse in 2014. The festival is known for art demonstrations, craft booths and live entertainment. It’s held in the street and parking lot outside the Pump House.

Krzych said this year’s event will just be one day (June 10), instead of a Friday-Saturday celebration. She did say, however, that word about Artspire is spreading throughout the region to larger cities.

Organizers are still looking at possible performers for Artspire, including a floating circus which will be traveling down the Mississippi River on a raft this summer.

Related Topics:arts festival artspire featured pump house

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.