An event set to run through the weekend aims to bring together the best of the Southwest with food trucks, live bluegrass music and an array of artwork from 147 artists.

The 2013 Holiday Artisans Market begins today and will run through Sunday at the Tucson Museum of Art.

“It’s kind of like a Fourth Avenue Street Fair vibe, but not quite so hipster,” said Meagan Crain, the museum’s special events manager.

Crain added that a few thousand people typically attend the event over the course of the weekend, filling up the museum grounds.
John McNulty, retail manager of the museum and co-founder of the craft market, said that the Holiday Artisans Market also offers a head start on gift shopping.

“It’s not just the gift-giving crowd,” McNulty said, “but it certainly helps to have items that people will buy for Christmas because that’s what they’re looking for.”

McNulty said the cost of the artwork varies depending on the elegance of a piece. Prices generally start around $5 but can reach well over $1,000.

“It’s all media, so we’re looking at everything imaginable,” McNulty said. “Paper paintings, photography, jewelry, house goods, decorative goods, furniture [and] jams and jelly.”

McNulty added that admission to the museum — which is usually $10 — is also free for the entire weekend. Since the market’s inception 30 years ago, McNulty said that not only are artists supported through local participation in the market, but the semi-annual event also helps the museum keep its doors open through fundraising.

“The artists are actually helping the museum,” McNulty said. “It also makes people want to buy here because they know they are supporting the museum and the local artists as well.”

Crain said food trucks set to attend include Kool Twists (ice cream and smoothies), DC Jumbie Latin and Caribbean cuisine and Dragoon Market Café from today until Sunday. Serial Grillers will join in on the food truck fun Saturday and Sunday and a feast of kettle corn and hotdogs will also be available.

The Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association will deliver its bluegrass folk jams in the museum’s parking lot on Saturday and Sunday. DJ Andy DePew from Satyr Entertainment will be stationed in the lobby playing classic oldies.

Crain added that the event encompasses a relaxing and family-friendly environment.

“They can come downtown to experience local artists and their work … and part of the proceeds go to the museum,” Crain said. “You can bring your family down, have lunch, listen to music [and] it can be a full-day event.”