Downtown Frederick’s Top 5 Labor Day Weekend (September 2-5)

Downtown Frederick’s Top 5 Labor Day Weekend (September 2-5)

It may be the unofficial end of summer, but there’s still so much happening downtown this weekend. Take the kiddos to see Mr. Jon for a Rock n’ Rhyme dance party, or to C Burr Artz Library to make bookmarks for back to school with Frederick Book Arts on a real press. You can visit the Autumn Moon Harvest Festival (don’t miss the moon cake eating contest!) or see Grammy-nominated artist Christylez Bacon live at FAC’s Sky Stage! And since you’ll be downtown for First Saturday, why not make a weekend of it and join in for the inaugural Sunday Art Walk with live demonstrations and meet the artist opportunities throughout downtown.

Autumn Moon Harvest Festival presented by AACF

Saturday, September 3, 1pm-7pm, Free Admission

Carroll Creek Park

Asian American Center of Frederick is hosting the Autumn Moon Harvest Festival!

The Autumn Moon Harvest is a great time for celebration. There will be:

  • live performances
  • music
  • dance
  • arts and crafts
  • retail
  • food
  • interactive activities
  • and more!

Come try some mooncakes and participate in live singing sessions!

The event is free, but RSVP here for reminders and updates!

If you would like to participate or volunteer, please contact us right away at events@aacfmd.org

This event is part of AACF’s new program – “Carroll Creek Culture Series” which is launched in conjunction with the Downtown Frederick Partnership’s First Saturdays’ celebrations. The culture series will present 5 thematic events from May to September. It will be held at Carroll Creek Park in Downtown City of Frederick.

Back to School First Saturday Bookmark Event with Frederick Book Arts Center @ C Burr Artz Public Library

Saturday, September 3, 10am-3pm, Free Admission

110 E Patrick St

It’s back to school time and Frederick Book Arts Center is partnering with the Frederick County Public Libraries for a special make your own bookmarks event. Join us at the C. Burr Artz Library main lobby to make free bookmarks on our Showcard Press and then check out the perfect book or books to use them in!

Rock n’ Rhyme with Mr. Jon @ FAC’s Sky Stage

Sunday, September 4, 1pm-2pm, $5, children under 3 free

59 S Carroll St

This family-friendly ‘rock & rhyme’ concert with Mr. Jon & Friends will get your toes tappin’! Dancing encouraged! Tickets on Eventbrite, $5 cover, 3 and under free. A limited number of seats will be available at the door. Cards or cash. Water, soft drinks, juice pouches, and small packaged snacks available for purchase. We are BYO-food and dog-friendly (dogs who are well-behaved around children, please). Cash or cards accepted. Open-air venue, remember to dress for the weather! In event of rain, show may move to indoor location, stay tuned for updates. At the door — $5, $15 families, under age 3 free.

Christylez Bacon, with Guest Harpist Abbie Palmer @ FAC’s Sky Stage

Saturday, September 3, 8pm-10pm, $10

59 S Carroll St

Christylez Bacon (pronounced: chris-styles) is a GRAMMY® Nominated Progressive Hip-Hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from Southeast, Washington, DC. As a performer, Christylez multi-tasks between various instruments such as the West African djembe drum, acoustic guitar, and the human beat-box (oral percussion), all while continuing the oral tradition of storytelling through his lyrics.

In 2011, Christylez began a cross-cultural collaborative concert series in Washington, DC, “Washington Sound Museum” (WSM). WSM is a monthly intimate celebration of music featuring guest artists from diverse musical genres with Christylez Bacon and his progressive hip-hop orchestra. Since WSM’s inception, Christylez has collaborated with artists from various cultural backgrounds, ranging from the Hindustani & Carnatic music of India, the contemporary Arabic music of Egypt, and the music of Brazil. Linked here is his 2011 Ted Talk, “Reinventing Hip Hop”!

With a mission towards cultural acceptance and unification through music, Christylez is constantly pushing the envelope – from performances at the National Cathedral, to becoming the first Hip-Hop artist to be featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, composing and orchestrating an entire concert for a 12-piece orchestra commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Smithsonian Institute, or recording a Folk/Hip-Hop children’s album. He is the recipient of multiple honors awarded by the Washington Area Music Association including 2013 Artist of the Year, and the Montgomery County Executive Award for Excellence in the Arts, and has even been honored as a 2012 “Library Superhero” by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County.

For the September 3 concert at Sky Stage, Bacon will be collaborating with harpist & singer-songwriter Abbie Palmer. She has been performing and recording since age 11. Grounded in Celtic harp, she expanded her musical training to classical harp at Shenandoah Conservatory. Palmer received degrees in performance and music therapy and also maintains a practice as a board-certified music therapist based in Washington, DC.

All-ages (under 12 free). Beer/wine for 21+ w/ID.

Sunday Artwalk

Sunday, September 4, 12pm-4pm

Downtown

Since you’ll already be in town for First Saturday…

The art galleries encourage you to stay for a special Downtown Frederick Sunday Artwalk following each First Saturday. There will be special events, art talks, live demos, and DIY projects from 12-4pm.

Find specifics for September 4th below:

Help make a repousse sculpture @ NOMA Gallery
Linda will be demonstrating repousse by sculpting Leaves and Flowers on a large piece of metal. Audience members may participate!

Painting with Beeswax!? What’s up with that? @ DISTRICT Arts
DISTRICT Arts gallery artist Lori Niland Rounds will explain the techniques involved with encaustic art (painting with beeswax). She will have examples and samples for you to look at and touch.

Artist Talk by Cathy Wilkin & Linoleum-printing Demo by Rhonda Smith @ TAG/The Artists Gallery
Cathy Wilkin will give an artist’s talk about her process from 12-1pm. Rhonda Smith will follow with a demonstration of linoleum-printing from 1-3pm.

Jewelry making “crème brûlée style” @ Delaplaine Arts Center
See jewelry designer, Diane Ringel, create colorful torch-fired enamel pieces. Her technique is “crème brûlée style” and the resulting colors are beautiful. Diane is demonstrating at the Delaplaine and her jewelry is available in the Gift Gallery.

Painting En Plein Air on Market Street @ Gallery 322
For Sunday Artwalk, Gallery 322 plein air artists will set up their easels out on Market Street, capturing the cityscape on canvas from 12-4pm.

The Seeds of Dreamers exhibit @ Griffin Side Gallery
Meet & greet Johan Lowie at his exhibition of etchings and drawings.

Talk & Chalk @ Eastside Artists’ Gallery
Doug Moulden will give an artist talk and outdoor chalk will be available for the kids to decorate the back walkway.

Find more information and an interactive walking map here:
ARTWALK