Spring Celebration returns to the Art Alley

Press release

The Art and Beautification Committee of Downtown Havre Matters! in partnership with the Hi-Line Arts Council is very excited to bring back the Spring Celebration in the Art Alley in downtown Havre, the committee said in a press release.

“Join in the Spring Celebration with your friends and family on Saturday, April 30th, weather permitting,” the release said.

In 2015, the Art and Beautification Committee took on “an ambitious goal to add colorful art through multiple mediums to enhance the downtown core, to give the downtown a more visible artsy vibe,” the release said.

The plan included lighting, public art and beautification in the alleyway between Second and Third streets behind Havre Hardware and Cavaliers. The first Art Alley project completed was lighting the alley between Third and Fourth avenues.

“The lights that grace the alley were hung in November of 2020 and became a fascination and focal point throughout the winter,” the release said.

Last spring, the Hi-Line Arts Council and the Art and Beautification Committee literally threw together the Spring Celebration event. It was a whirlwind of pulling together ideas and activities to offer the community a fun art-focused afternoon for the whole family to enjoy.

“There wasn’t a clue of what to expect that spring day, April 18th, coming kind of out of COVID,” the release said. “The collective groups were blown away by the willingness of so many people to help. And the large crowd of people that experienced the event exceeded any expectations.”

“It was so fun and exciting to see friends and families walking the alley and enjoying a very warm early spring Saturday,” Debbie Vandeberg of the Downtown Havre Matters! committee said in the release. “The businesses lining the alley along with food trucks and downtown businesses experienced a great day.”

Since spring of last year, the dumpster on the Third Avenue end of the alley became a mural of sunflowers over the summer months. This summer, work will begin transforming the back doors of several businesses that line the alley into works of art. A mural project is also in the works, along with signage welcoming folks to the Art Alley.

“Public art helps ensure that ‘our place’ continues to be a unique, interesting, fun and full of color,” Vandeberg said.

This year’s celebration has much the same focus, showcasing a variety of art mediums including local artists, an art project for kids, musicians Blind Luck and the Milk River Band, food trucks, and much more is in store for Saturday, April 30, between 3 and 7 p.m.

“Havre is a great community for support. Independence Bank and Tilleman Motor Co. & Jeep have generously agreed to sponsor the Spring Celebration through their two-year commitment for which we are so very grateful,” Vandeberg said.