Summer Jam Music and Art in Westgate Park is ready to roll out its second year on July 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This year, the annual arts and music festival has chosen the theme, “On the Wings of Change.”
Event coordinator, Patti Von Niessen and the team wanted to raise awareness on the decline of the monarch butterfly and the simple steps people could take to save the species. Monarch Watch of Ohio and Monarch Maniacs will be at the festival with information, milkweed seeds, activities for the kids and a butterfly tent with monarchs that will allow children and adults to get up close and personal with the pollinator.
The bands this year are all from Columbus and include Noe Salsa Project, Personal Public, Hebdo, The Apple Bottom Gang, Heartbreak orchestra and Chittenden Hotel. They begin playing at 10:50 a.m.
Art will be for sale under the art tent with many emerging artists, including 21 local artists.
There will be free children’s activities this year with free face painting and an art zone sponsored by Hilltop Kiwanis. Summer Jam partners with Columbus fire and police departments to allow children to interact with the K-9 unit, pet the horses, sit in a police car and run through the Safe House.
According to Von Niessen, the biggest accomplishment for Summer Jam this year, is the addition of the very first piece of free standing, public art. The sculpture is the design and concept of artist, Rachel Pace of Steeling Copper. Pace has been working on the 14-foot-tall, stainless steel sculpture since January and it will be installed in time for everyone to admire at Summer Jam. She named the sculpture, “On the Wings of Change.”
