PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

Paradise City Arts Festival • Marlborough, Massachusetts

Event Date: March 22-24, 2024

Celebrating its 27th year, this highly selective, beautifully curated showcase for 170 of the finest of independent artists and craft makers is a “must-see” for lovers of the arts in the Greater Boston region and beyond.

Marlborough, Massachusetts:

The 27th annual Spring Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough, Massachusetts will be held March 22, 23 & 24 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center. Paradise City’s show in Marlborough, often called “the jewel of craft shows”, has been a New England tradition since 1998. 

Metro Boston’s leading show and sale of fine craft, painting and sculpture is the ideal way to celebrate the end of winter. Whether it’s a destination for serious collecting, imaginative gifting, or simply refreshing one’s home and wardrobe with something special, everyone delights in searching out treasures at Paradise City Arts. Every booth is a tiny gallery or boutique, each offering one-of-a-kind and limited-edition work by one of the nation’s finest artists and makers. Paradise City welcomes dozens of marvelous new artists from near and far to this year’s show.

Director Linda Post says, “You don’t get any more ‘small business’ than an independent artist or craftsperson designing and making original work one at a time in his or her studio. This is a movement that began in the sixties or seventies as part of the counterculture but is now an inspiration for the indie artisan community that has taken hold among a new generation throughout America. People are also looking for the personal touch, the conversations with artists that are a vital part of what makes festivals like Paradise City Arts valuable to the arts community in the 21st century. When you bring something home from a show like this, there’s a narrative to it,” Post explains. “Those stories give an extra dimension to the objects that surround you in your home.”

The venue is easily accessible from all parts of New England via I-495 and features acres of free parking. A shuttle bus runs a continuous loop to and from the adjoining parking lots. Two cafés serve light meals, beverages, wine and beer, and desserts.

Special Themed Exhibit: “Fresh Greens!”

The themed shows-within-a-show at Paradise City Arts Festivals have always enchanted and educated the public, while offering the artists an opportunity to be extra creative and think outside the box.

Artists “think green” in a variety of ways. Serene green carries through a potter’s celadon glaze, an emerald ring, the green patina on a bronze or copper sculpture, a painting of a spring meadow, or a teal-green resin stream running through a walnut tabletop. The theme can also incorporate “green” eco-artistry, the re-use of found objects as elements of mixed-media assemblage, or fashion and quilts made from recycled fabric.

Designers often incorporate the color into their client’s environment, fostering a feeling of harmony and life. It is a way of bringing the outside in, and for those without a green thumb, even a tint of hunter or jade evokes nature – without the mess of potting soil! Green stands for balance, nature, spring, and rebirth. It’s the symbol of prosperity, freshness, and progress. 

Like the flowers that re-emerge in the Spring, our artists are eager to share their newly unfurled collections and remind you of why the grass is always greenest at Paradise City Arts.

In the Sculpture Café

The sunlit Sculpture Café is a meeting place, a gallery exhibition area, and a cozy spot to grab a drink or a sweet bite and take a break after your first pass through the show. Friends coming to the fair together often reconnect at one of the tables in the Sculpture Café for coffee or a glass of wine, a sweet treat, and to share the contents of their shopping bags. For food that’s savory and substantial, look to the Paradise Café in the rear of the hall for sandwiches, salads, hot soups and tasty daily specials.

Every day from noon to 4pm live music wafts from the café through the entire exhibition hall. From Motown and swing to classic jazz and original music, these artful and lively musicians enhance the Paradise City Arts experience. The Café is also the location for the exhibit “Fresh Greens!” and a great place to people-watch and share selfies and shots of the show on social media.

How do they do it?

Walking the show, one often comes across an artist working on a painting, sketching out a concept for a commission, carving wood or sizing clothing for a client. This is one of the little pleasures of Paradise City Arts. Not only is the event an opportunity to meet the artists and talk to them about their work, but there is always a glimpse of the technique and thought process behind each piece of art. Learn about their stories!

MPSMA Benefit

The annual coat check station at the door benefits the Marlborough Public Schools Music Association through voluntary donations. The Association supports instrumental, vocal and dance groups in the local schools and afterschool programs. The members are the parents of the music students, the students themselves, music teachers and community supporters who have a strong belief in the importance of music education. Paradise City Arts Festivals have raised more than $500,000 over the years to benefit community causes.

Fast Facts

What:
Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough
170 juried artists exhibiting original works in painting, art glass, ceramics, decorative fiber, fine furniture, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, photography, large-scale sculpture, wearable art and wood. With live music, special exhibits, and two dining options.

Where:
Royal Plaza Trade Center
181 Royal Plaza Drive (at Route 20W)
Marlborough, MA 01752

Just 5 minutes north of the intersection of Mass Pike (I-90) and I-495, Marlborough is only 35 minutes from downtown Boston, and an easy drive from NH, RI, CT, ME and points west. From all points, take I-495 to exit 63B (Route 20 West). The Royal Plaza Trade Center is about 1 mile on the right.

When:
March 22, 23 & 24, 2024
Friday, March 22: 10am-5pm
Saturday, March 23: 10am-6pm
Sunday, March 24: 11am-5pm

Admission:
$16 adults ($12-$14 online); $8 students; $18 Weekend Pass; children 12 and under admitted free; handicapped accessible; free color program with admission; acres of free parking and shuttle service. Tickets can be purchased both online and at the onsite box office.

Complete show and travel information, online advance ticketing and discounted admissions: www.paradisecityarts.com. For more information, call 800.511.9725