SPRINGFIELD — The 39th Annual Artfest kicked off downtown on Walnut Street. Photojournalist Mike Pitts brings you some of the sights and sounds of this jam-packed event. 

Around 130 artists gathered on Walnut Street, and the weekend features about 65 different performances. 

There were kids activities and around 20 food vendors, too. 

“Artsfest is just at that right time, to be able to be outside and enjoy the sun,” said Leslie Forrester, executive director of the Springfield Arts Council. “Outside with your family enjoying kids activities and that sort of thing. Our artists are from all over the country, we’ve even got somebody here from Canada who made the trip down, So there might be some familiar faces that you know here, but there will also be a lot of new art that you’ve probably never seen before and that’s ultimately the goal of our festival, boost artist sales and support local art making.”

If you missed it today, don’t worry – Artfest starts back up again tomorrow at 10 a.m.