Mill Creek Park
50 Hinckley Dr, South Portland, ME 04106
USA
South Portland’s annual Art in the Park Show & Sale is a summer favorite of participating artists and the public. Held on the second Saturday in August in beautiful Mill Creek Park, the show features original art and photography by up to 170 artists, a food court, and music in the afternoon. Admission is free. The show opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m.
Prize winners are announced at noon at the gazebo. Prizes range from Best in Show ($800.00) to Merit Awards (five at $150.00 each) and include Best Photo in Show ($500.00). The Judges’ Tent, with one submission by each artist in the show will not be open to the public so as to allow the artists to retrieve his/her artwork and allow it to be shown at their individual stands.
The Food Court, located in the Broadway/Ocean Street corner of the park features a variety of food from hot dogs and ice cream to international cuisine. The Food Court is open between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Costs of the show are paid for by artists’ fees and donations from sponsors. All committee members are volunteers, as are almost all show day workers. Revenues over and above costs are used for park improvements. Past improvements have included the gazebo, the fountain, a contribution toward holiday lighting, as well as to the city’s Greenbelt Walkway and the re-design of the park itself. A new sound system was donated in 2013.
Art in the Park also awards a $1000.00 scholarship every year to a student graduating from South Portland High School who is going on to study art in college.
Art in the Park is always held on the second Saturday in August (unless storms arise).