DELRAY BEACH – What started out as the Gladiola Festival nearly five decades ago has evolved into the signature art event of the season called the Delray Affair, which presents its 48th edition this weekend.
The event will be held Friday, April 9 through Sunday, April 11. Organizers expect it will attract more than 300,000 visitors to stroll along East Atlantic Avenue during the three-day event.
This year, the Delray Affair will feature more than 800 exhibits by artists and crafters from South Florida, 38 states and 16 countries, in addition to Unique Travel’s World Showcase Travel Expo, Crane’s BeachHouse New Artist Oasis and a family amusement area on Swinton Avenue.
The event stretches along Atlantic Avenue from NW First Avenue east to the Intracoastal Hours are: Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Streets to be blocked for vehicular traffic include NW 1st / SW 1st Avenue (west of Swinton) to the Intracoastal Waterway along Atlantic Avenue and will extend north to NE 1st Street and south to SE 1st Street. Traffic going north and south will use U.S. 1 (Federal Highway, 5th & 6th) which will be controlled by police.
Admission to the Delray Affair is free. There is free parking and handicap parking is available at the Delray Beach City Hall parking lot on NW 1st Avenue and at the parking garages for a $5 parking fee.
Also available for free is the Downtown Roundabout that runs from the Delray Beach Tri-Rail station on Congress Avenue to State Road A1A.
Among new events this year is the “World Showcase Travel Expo” presented by Unique Travel of Palm Beach and its staff. The expo (located on the grounds of Old School Square’s pavilion area) will feature more than 30 different travel affiliates providing information on worldwide destinations, resorts and cruises. Visitors will have the opportunity to speak directly to representatives of the travel groups and book vacations on site.
Also new this year is “Crane’s Beach House New Artists Oasis” located on Old School Square’s front lawn area. Artists from shows in Michigan, Kentucky and Texas will display their works.
For more information about the Delray Affair, call (561) 279-1380 or visit www.delrayaffair.com