For one weekend in early summer, the Village of Riverside, Illinois, turns Guthrie Park into an outdoor arts fair, with winding rows of artists’ tents, music drifting across the park, and participants of all ages taking in the spectacle. That fair is Riverside Arts Weekend, better known as RAW, a nonprofit festival that brings together local artists, small businesses, and neighbors for two days of visual arts, live music, and hands‑on fun.
Hosted in the heart of historic Riverside, steps from the Metra station, RAW has grown into a highlight of the local calendar, right alongside summer concerts, block parties, and farmers markets. If you’re looking for a welcoming and casual fine arts–focused event, Riverside Arts Weekend is the place to be.
How Riverside Arts Weekend Started
Riverside Arts Weekend began in 2008 and has grown into a community-driven fine arts event highlighting the town’s historic and park setting. Over the years, RAW has evolved into a juried arts festival that features a spectrum of visual artists, a variety of musical performers, and a signature community art project. The event is run by a volunteer committee and organized as a nonprofit, which means sponsorships, donations, and booth fees go right back into covering costs and growing the festival.
What makes RAW distinct from many other regional fairs is that it emphasizes the depth of artistry in its many forms. This compact, walkable event fits the town’s Olmsted‑designed landscape and draws from the village’s own arts community.
What to Expect at Riverside Arts Weekend
Riverside Arts Weekend takes place over a Saturday and Sunday, typically the second weekend in June, and is centered in Guthrie Park across from the Riverside train station. The event offers the opportunity to spend a few hours browsing and purchasing fine art, listening to local performers, and relaxing in the park. A typical RAW weekend includes:
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A variety of visual artists. Tents line the park’s paths, each one home to an artist offering paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, printmaking, and more.
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Live music and dance performances. The stage hosts bands, singer‑songwriters, school groups, and occasional dance performances, giving the event a steady soundtrack.
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Hands‑on art activities. A dedicated children’s art activities station invites kids (and adults) to paint, glue, draw, and build their own art piece. Throughout the weekend, various artists also demonstrate their craft to all participants.
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Authors’ Meet & Greet opportunity. In recent years, RAW has added an authors’ tent featuring local authors, including several children’s book writers, giving young readers a chance to meet creators in person.
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Food and beverage vendors. Local food vendors and nearby businesses fuel the day with coffee, baked goods, savory and sweet treats.
Because Guthrie Park sits right by the train line and close to Riverside’s downtown shops, visitors might consider checking out the library, the riverwalk, or nearby cafés between exploring RAW booths.
A Juried Fine Arts Fair Sprinkled with Demonstrations
One thing that makes Riverside Arts Weekend stand out is the artists’ ability to give you a peek behind the curtain of their creativity and skills. RAW is a juried fine arts event: Artists apply in advance, a panel reviews their work, and those approved by the panel are invited to show in booth spaces in Guthrie Park. Care is taken to curate a variety of artisans - bringing local and regional artists showcasing artisans committed to their craft. From there, RAW goes a step further to highlight the artists’ work:
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Live Demonstrations. Artists are encouraged to demonstrate their craft right in their booths—painting in real time, leathersmithing, or digital art techniques. Visitors aren’t just perusing finished work; they’re also learning about the creative process.
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Best in Show Awards. During the weekend, volunteer artists jury their peers, awarding prizes for seasoned and emerging artists.
The festival attracts a mix of artists at different life stages, from recent graduates to retirees finally able to devote more time to their practice. That variety makes the booths interesting to revisit year after year.
Community Art Projects Highlight Riverside Features
Each year, Riverside Arts Weekend debuts its annual art project inviting residents to help develop an art piece. Past community projects have included:
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Painted planter boxes highlighting the beautiful green spaces
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A large‑scale triptych at the Riverside train station, designed by an artist and painted by nearly 80 Riverside residents
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Honoring the developer of Riverside, Calvert Vaux, graceful park benches and accompanying booklet narrative featured local residents art and prose
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Swans paraded through town pay homage to the pond that once stood adjacent to the riverwalk
Each year’s project changes, but the pattern stays the same: RAW supplies the framework, and the community of Riverside fills it in. Families, retirees, and kids all contribute, then come back during the weekend, where all visitors can see the completed works on display and a chance to bid on a piece to bring home.
If you like the idea of leaving a small mark on the festival and the village, keep an eye out for signs about the current year’s community piece on Riverside Arts Weekend’s website and social media accounts such as @raw_riverside.
Food, Coffee, and Supporting Small Businesses
While Riverside Arts Weekend is primarily an arts fair, the food options help round out each day. Because the event sits in the middle of downtown Riverside, local restaurants, bakeries, and cafés often participate as official food vendors in the park for the weekend.
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Grab a slice or salad from a nearby restaurant between booth visits
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Pick up pastries and coffee to enjoy while perusing the artists’ booths
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Try something new from a tented vendor you’ve never tasted before
This setup makes RAW an easy way to support small businesses in Riverside while you’re browsing art or for a treat at the end of the day.
Family‑Friendly and Hands‑On by Design
Riverside Arts Weekend is intentionally family‑friendly. In addition to the main artist booths and stage, there’s a children’s art activities station staffed by RAW’s collaborative partner, Riverside Arts Center volunteers and teaching artists. Kids can:
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Make a simple take‑home project
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Add a piece to a collaborative mural or community art project
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Listen to kid‑focused performers during morning live music sets
The whole event offers families time to spend together and enjoy the fest before or after sports and other commitments kick in.
Getting Involved: Visitors, Volunteers, and Artists
There are several ways to become part of Riverside Arts Weekend:
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As a visitor. Show up, walk the art fair, listen to music, and buy art if something speaks to you. Admission is free, and the park layout makes it easy to come for an hour or two or stay all afternoon.
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As a volunteer. The RAW committee recruits volunteers for short shifts to help with setup, artist support, children’s activities, and closing duties. It’s a great way for Riverside residents and high‑school students, seeking service hours, to give back and support this community event. Even the RAW board and planning committee is made up of volunteers who handle logistics, sponsorship outreach, marketing, and the artist selection process.
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As an artist. Artists apply through an online system each year. The call for entries usually opens late January before the festival, and artists are notified of acceptance from March-May. RAW encourages local and emerging artists to apply.
If you’re curious about any of these paths, the easiest first step is to check the official Riverside Arts Weekend website or email the organizers directly at riversideartsweekend@yahoo.com. They keep those channels updated with deadlines, volunteer links, and FAQ as the festival approaches.
Making a Day of It in Riverside
One of the perks of visiting RAW is that you’re in a village with plenty to see and do just a short walk away. Before or after your time in Guthrie Park, you can:
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Stroll along the Des Plaines River on the nearby riverwalk
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Visit the historic Riverside train station and Town Hall
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Explore the curving streets and parks that make Riverside a National Historic Landmark
Many visitors build their day around the festival taking in the Riverside Arts Weekend and all that Riverside has to offer. One can easily travel to RAW as Riverside can be accessed via Metra's BNSF line; if traveling by car there is free, street parking throughout; or cycle over to this bike friendly community. If you’re looking for a weekend of visual arts, live music, and genuinely hands‑on creativity in a beautiful park setting, RAW is worth marking on your calendar.