Banana Factory Block Party
May 6 & 7, 2022
ArtsQuest invites the community to a free family-friendly Banana Factory Block Party at the Banana Factory Arts Center in SouthSide Bethlehem beginning Friday, May 6 to Saturday May 7, 2022. The two-day event will feature live music, comedy, exhibitions, art workshops and more throughout the weekend.
Formerly known as the SouthSide Arts & Music Festival (SSAMF), this two-day family-friendly celebration will feature musical performances by Trouble City All Stars and Big Easy Easton Brass, art-making activities with mural artist Symone Salib, a Bob Ross Paint-along, Salsa and Bachata dance workshops facilitated by Aja Jefferson, a free photo print swap hosted by Dan’s Camera City and a live comedy program called The Van Gogh Gos: An improv comedy show. Attendees are also invited to enjoy current exhibitions on display including “Heroes” by Musikfest poster artist Bart Cooper, “My Mind is an Escape Room” by Kailey Atkinson and “Abecynnia” by William Harris. This art-inclusive weekend will also feature ArtsQuest’s new All AccessIBLE arts program with a sensory friendly touch collection made by Mallory Zondag.
Other featured events during the weekend-long celebration include Yoga & Art Workshop with Mindfulness Educator Brooke Kohler, Small Works Art Sale featuring the work of the Banana Factory Resident Artists, glassblowing demonstrations, screen printed tote bag workshop, Drag Queen Story Hour with Miss Amie, lawn games and so much more.
Party activities will take place outside, as well as throughout Banana Factory’s art galleries, glassblowing studio, artist studios and classrooms. Snacks at this event can be purchased from Simply Skewered and Kona Ice. There will also be a cash bar available.
Special thanks to the Borgenicht Foundation for making our mural artist program possible. The Banana Factory Block Party is for the community by the community and is made possible by many local partners including Bethlehem Area Public Library, Salsa Instructor Aja Jefferson, Dan’s Camera City, MAKE Lehigh Valley and More Than Music. Festivities will begin Friday at 6 p.m. at ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory, located at 25 W. Third St., and last throughout Saturday afternoon.
There are currently no events scheduled. Please view the full calendar for all upcoming events!
Schedule
Download ScheduleFriday, May 6: 6-9 p.m.
Crayola Gallery
Heroes by Bart Cooper Exhibition
Cash Bar Food/Drink
6:30–8 p.m.: Trouble City All Stars Music
Banko Gallery
Abecynnia by William Harris Exhibition
6:30 p.m.: William Harris Artist Talk
8–9 p.m.: The Van Gogh Gos: An improv comedy show Comedy
Hallway to the Arts
My Mind is an Escape Room by Kailey Atkinson Exhibition
Visual Arts Classroom
6-9 p.m.: Art-Making Art-Making
Hot Glass Shop
6-9 p.m.: Glassblowing Demonstrations Art-Making
Banana Factory Resident Artist Studios – 2nd and 3rd floors
6-9 p.m.: Open Artist Studios Art-Making
Mosaics Demo with Kim Hogan, Studio 350 Art-Making
Painting Demo with David Sommers, Studio 255 Art-Making
Floral Demo with Rachel Bell, Studio 248 A Art-Making
Studio 104
All ACCESSible Program: Touch Collection by Mallory Zondag Exhibitions
Digital Classroom
7:30 p.m.: Kailey Atkinson Artist Talk
Saturday, May 7: 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Inside:
Crayola Gallery
Heroes by Bart Cooper Exhibition
Live DJ - DJ's ARM 18 & Big Sir Music
Face Painting
Commonwealth Charter Academy
12-2 p.m.: Dan’s Camera City Print Swap
2:30- 5 p.m.: Art-Making for Families
3 – 5 p.m.: Salsa and Bachata dance workshops facilitated by Aja Jefferson Dance
Banko Gallery
Abecynnia by William Harris Exhibition
12 – 1:30 p.m.: Yoga & Art Drop-In Workshop with Brooke Kohler Wellness
2 – 3 p.m.: Drag Queen Story Hour with Miss Amie Stories
Bethlehem Area Public Library
Digital Classroom
1-3 p.m.: Cartooning & Anime Drop-in with Teen Takeover
Mosaics Classroom
Try your hand at screen printing in this BYOT (Bring Your Own Tote!) workshop! Learn how to screen-print using a paper stencil and will leave with an image printed on their tote bag of choice, or use a Banana Factory provided tote! Art-Making
Banana Factory Lobby
12 - 2 p.m.: Mural Arts with Symone Salib Art-Making
Hallway to the Arts
My Mind is an Escape Room by Kailey Atkinson Exhibition
Visual Arts Classroom
12 – 2 p.m.: Bob Ross Paint-A-Long Art-Making
2 – 5 p.m.: Mural Arts with Symone Salib Art-Making
Clay Classrooom
12-5 p.m.: Shrinky Dinks with Natalie Hartman Art-Making
Hot Glass Shop
Glassblowing Demonstrations & Hot Glass Experiences Art-Making
Banana Factory Resident Artist Studios – 2nd and 3rd floors
12 – 5 p.m.: Open Artist Studios Art-Making
2:30-5 p.m.: Painting Demo with David Sommers, Studio 255 Art-Making
Studio 104
All ACCESSible Program: Touch Collection by Mallory Zondag Exhibition
3 - 5 p.m.: All ACCESSible program with Hilari
Studio 102
12-4 p.m.: Henna (Any child under 13 will need to have parents give permission)
12-4 p.m.: Tarot Card Readings
Studio 340
Art-Making for Families:
- Banana Crowns
- Seed Paper
Outside:
Simply Skewered
Kona Ice
Throughout the Building
Big Easy Easton Brass Band Parade
1 p.m.: parade will go through the Banana Factory
