“I imagine kind of this crisp, cool, December first night with lots of people bundled up and out on foot with hot chocolate, or something stronger, in hand and walking up and down these cute streets and, you know, Christmas music in the background and lights in trees and light posts and just a pretty picturesque magical night,” Benjamin Nockels said.
As the Owner of downtown Edmond Commonplace Books, Nockels’ has been participating in VIBES’ downtown Edmond art walks since the events began in April 2021.
And this year VIBES’s organizers, Edmond Fine Arts Institute, are expanding the events’ usual schedule of monthly April-October art walks, to include the holiday season in a one-evening-only event, Dec. 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
“The holidays was a great time to have another VIBE, particularly to encourage people to shop local and shop artist-made as they're planning out their seasonal gifts,” Edmond Fine Arts Institute Program Manager Savannah Whitehead said. “So with it falling on December the first, we’re like ‘That's a great time and, you know, we'll do that first Thursday.’”
Performances scheduled for the event include saxophonist Vearl T, musical duo Five Year Gap, and the Sentimental Social Club trio, and the Edmond Youth Chorus will be caroling.
“Come celebrate the season with the community and mark even the hardest person to shop for off your list,” Whitehead said.
Approximately 30 local artists will have their work available for purchase including paintings, multi-media artwork and other forms.
“We've got several jewelry makers. We have a leather artist, photographers, and several ceramicists that will be out there,” Whitehead said.
She said she’s been happy to see the response to the new event from Edmond’s arts community.
“This past year, each artist that set up averaged $350 of sales at each event which is pretty incredible—for four hours of their time,” Whitehead said. “We love to see that that money is going straight back into artists’ pockets that are working in our community. We don't take any commission. They pay a one time application fee of $50, but really our goal is to help the arts thrive in our community.”
More than a dozen local businesses are planning to join in on the festivities as well, and the timing of the event coincides with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce and Edmond Economic Development Authority’s holiday rebate program.
According to the Chamber’s website, “For every $50 you spend (rounded down) from Nov. 25 through Dec. 4 at an Edmond restaurant or retailer, you will earn a $10 gift card to the business/businesses you support. This offer is good for up to $250 in spending, which results in a maximum of $50 gift card.”
Whitehead said that the VIBES event becoming an annual event, “is definitely in the realm of possibility,” and may depend in part upon how this year's holiday downtown festivities go.
To submit receipts for the rebate, visit edmondchamber.com
