Families, art enthusiasts, music lovers, beer aficionados and everyone in between are invited to the second annual Midtown Arts Festival (MAF) Saturday, Oct. 20th, from noon - 6 p.m. in the heart of Midtown on 20th Street between J and K streets. This free event is part of ARTober – Fall for the Arts, a Sacramento regional arts campaign running the entire month of October. This vibrant, artistically diverse outdoor festival will cover a broad spectrum of creativity, from the exquisite to the experimental, the visual to the performing, and every medium in between.

The festival will feature performance programs on two stages: The SMUD Performance Stage and the SUBMERGE Band Stage as well as artist and craft vendor booths, a kid’s Arts Area and interactive arts activities.

“The Midtown Arts Festival is a special experience. Families can enjoy live performance art as well as hands-on arts projects all in one place in one afternoon," said event organizer Heather Philpott of the MIdtown Business Association. "Celebrating and supporting the arts in Sacramento is easy with so many talented individuals and organizations … and you’ll find them right here in Midtown for the Midtown Arts Festival."

New to the event this year is a craft beer area, Untapped, which will feature at least 10 local breweries.

“MBA is excited to highlight the region’s most talented local brewers at the Midtown Arts Festival,” said Elizabeth Studebaker, executive director of the MBA. “Brewing is, after all, an artform that has been celebrated for generations. The growing Sacramento craft beer industry, as evidenced by the success of companies like Rubicon Brewing, Ruhstaller and Track 7, to name a few, contribute to the character of Midtown, and bring quality local products for our restaurants and bars to serve. Featuring brewers alongside painters, sculptors, dancers, and singers just makes sense.”

Patrons will have the option to purchase a beer sampling package or purchase pints of beer to enjoy.

Music lovers will enjoy an afternoon filled with local bands including the Live Manikins, The Royal Jelly, Sicfus, and Project for Trees.

In its first year, the Midtown Arts Festival received rave reviews and exceeded attendance predictions, bringing in more than 1,000 residents and regional visitors. With the expanded scope in 2012, including Untapped and increased live performances, the Midtown Business Association projects attendance of 3,000 throughout the day.

Full event details, including performing arts, band stage lineups, vendors, and arts activities can be found here.