The downtown Oklahoma City annual art's festival, now going through Sunday, started out as a great idea. Years ago, when the City held the event in front of the courthouse, they reserved space for ticky-tacky artists and craftspeople that sold things like cedar bird houses, wind chimes and ornamental belt buckles. It always seemed there were more people browsing this part of the show than the "fine" art booths across the street.
The ticky-tack portion of the old Art's Festival was a little like exploring a thrift store. You never knew what treasure you might find. And there was food to taste. My favorite, and just about everyone else's, was the Indian Taco, a treat that was available no where else in the world.
Now, the Festival has moved down the street and the ticky-tacky artists and craftspeople are gone. Only the "fine" art remains and it is pretty much the same, year-after-year. Still, there is the food court which offers a little taste of just about every restaurant in OKC. Everyone's favorite, though, remains the Indian Taco, still around after all these years.
Next weekend is the Edmond Art's Festival, just up the street. Growing larger every year, this event still offers a little ticky-tack. The best ticky-tack festival of all, however, is the Paseo Arts Festival held in May. As for the festival in downtown OKC, I say bring back the ticky-tack.