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Southlake’s 24th Art in the Square event attracted 150 artists and numerous attendees over the weekend, organized by the Southlake Women’s Club and sponsored by NBC 5 and Telemundo 39. Unlike many art festivals, this event is entirely a fundraiser, with volunteer staff and proceeds from vendor fees and food sales benefiting charities in Tarrant County. Last year, they donated $130,000 and aimed to surpass that amount this year.
Out of 650 applicants, a jury selected 150 artists from across the country, as well as from Canada and Mexico, to showcase their work at the event. Despite facing some rain during setup, organizers remained vigilant about monitoring the weather and coordinating with meteorologists, emergency operations centers, and the police department to ensure safety.
Although weather concerns caused some anxiety among attendees and artists, precautions were taken, such as securing tents and having backup plans for severe weather. Some artists, like Tanya Kirouac from Illinois, took extra measures to protect their work, while attendees like the Causey family monitored weather updates closely. Despite the weather affecting foot traffic, attendees like Stu Stauber still appreciated the opportunity to support independent artists.
Looking ahead to Sunday, artists and attendees remained hopeful for better weather and encouraged people to come out and experience the event, even if there’s a chance of rain.