ESSENTIALS
The Commonwheel Information Booth is located in the center of the Park, facing the stage. Look here for or ask about:
• Participating Artists’ Locations
• Entertainment Schedule
• Lost & Found
• Help
Restrooms
Port-A-Potties located on east end of park.
Refuse
Recycling, Composting & Trash Cans are placed throughout the park.
Emergency
In case of emergency, go to the Information Booth or directly to the Police Station located west of the park on Manitou Ave.
Pets
We are always glad to see you at the Art Festival, but we do hope you left Fido at home. If not, please be considerate of others and help keep the park clean.
Free Festival Parking
The BRIARHURST MANOR has graciously offered their back parking lot to Festival patrons to use. ENTER AND EXIT ONLY FROM EL PASO BLVD. Signs & ropes will define the END to the Festival parking area. You MAY park on grassy areas in the shade near the rear driveway entry area. Please be aware the Briarhurst has events using their other parking areas and ask you to be careful to not impede their guests access to the Briarhurst buildings.
38 YEARS OF FINE ART AND CONTEMPORARY CRAFT
Commonwheel Artists 38th Labor Day Festival is a three-day event held in picturesque and historic Manitou Springs’ Memorial Park. It’s a weekend filled with high quality artwork, fine crafts, talented performers and fabulous food.
Approximately 110 artist's booths fill the park and 10 food booths can be found in a tree-shaded food court. A jury of professional artists will determine which artists and artisans are chosen. Only high quality handcrafted work created by artists who themselves will be present at the Festival is accepted.
The food booths are diverse and offer many tasty treats not found at other festivals. Food booths that focus on one style of food offerings are preferred.
There is live entertainment all day long on our stage area. Music by local performers offers a variety of styles to fit all musical tastes. Patrons can sit and enjoy their favorite entertainer while enjoying a tasty treat or listen as they wander the artists’ booths.
There are fun art activities for the children throughout the Park. Children can express their creativity in our Kid’s Art Activities Corner, have their faces painted, enjoy balloon animals created by Magic Man or create giant bubbles. These activities introduce children to art in fun and exciting ways and help make it a part of their lives forever.
Local patrons all along the Front Range describe the Commonwheel Festival as their favorite place to find high quality art and fine crafts for themselves and their homes. Saturday morning, early art patrons come to purchase the best pieces of art offered by their favorite artists and discover new artists each year. Many people come to purchase Holiday gifts that they know will be unique and please their art appreciating friends and family.
Since the Festival starts at 10 a.m. it is ideal for the crowds attending the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic to make a day of it. They can come over to Manitou Springs after the last balloons have disappeared in the blue Colorado sky and enjoy our live music, have lunch at a table in the food court, and then stroll along the beautiful booths by the shady creek.