The Uptown Art Fair moved to Bachman’s headquarters in south Minneapolis last year, and now the annual extravaganza will stay there and have a new name.
Rebranded as the SoMi Art Fair (short for south Minneapolis), this year’s fine arts festival will take place Aug. 2 and 3 in the parking lot of Bachman’s flagship store at 6010 Lyndale Av. S. for the second straight year.
Run by the Uptown Association, officials had hoped to return to its old location this year, but logistical challenges posed by the rebuilt and redesigned Hennepin Avenue and soaring production costs made making a format change necessary, said Jill Osiecki, the fair’s director.
The SoMi Art Fair will feature 300 juried artists, art demonstrations, live music and food.
“This exciting evolution marks a pivotal moment for the Uptown Art Fair, reflecting its resilience and commitment to adapting to the complexities of hosting large-scale urban events while addressing the changing needs of the community,” Osiecki said.
Last year, the Uptown Art Fair nearly didn’t happen. A major road construction project in the Uptown area of Minneapolis led fair officials to call off the event. The event was saved when Bachman’s stepped in and agreed to host.
Though smaller than usual when the sprawling fair covered several blocks, fair officials and Bachman’s deemed the 2024 event a “huge success with both the artists and the community,” and the two sides agreed to continue the partnership this year.
“For 140 years, Bachman’s has been part of the Twin Cities hosting many community events and we look forward to working with the Uptown association as they create a new art experience for the artists, community and our customers,” said Karen Bachman Thull, Bachman’s director of marketing and communications.
