ESCANABA — The area’s longest-running art festival — the Waterfront Art Festival — is set to return to Escanaba Saturday. The festival will be held in Ludington Park by the Karas Bandshell from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bonifas Arts Center Gallery Coordinator Kate Oman, who will also be a vendor at this year’s Waterfront Art Festival, said the festival has been a local tradition for 48 years.

“It started with the Bay Area Arts Association,” she said.

The Bonifas has been involved with the event for about eight years.

Over 50 vendors will be present at this year’s Waterfront Art Festival. Last year, about 62 vendors were involved with the event.

“It’s pretty comparable. It’s down a little bit from the previous years … but still going to be a great show,” Oman said.

A wide variety of artistic mediums will be represented at the festival. Oman said photographs, paintings, jewelry, fiber art, sculptures, pottery, soaps, turned wood and more will have a presence at the event.

A young artists’ market will once again be featured at the Waterfront Art Festival this year. The market will showcase works made by artists under the age of 18.

“It’s a great way for them to learn how to be entrepreneurial and make some money,” Oman said.

Young people will also be able to enjoy a youth activity tent.

“It’s a completely free art project,” Events Coordinator Rhonda Menary said of this tent.

Projects at the youth activity tent will include bubble painting and blow paint monsters.

A number of musicians will perform throughout the morning and afternoon during the art festival. Oman said one artist who will be performing at the event for the first time in 2019 is Northern Michigan University student and indie folk musician Niikah Hatfield.

Hatfield will perform at the Waterfront Art Festival from 2:15 to 3 p.m. Other performers will include the Remnants from 10 to 11 a.m., the Escanaba City Band from 11 to 11:45 a.m., Jim Finlan from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Theresa & Augie from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Max Wash from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. and Stephen Hooper from 3 to 4 p.m.

Food vendors and the League of Women Voters book sale will also be present at this year’s Waterfront Art Festival.