ASTORIA — Take a walk on the artsy side.
The annual Astoria Art Festival returns to the neighborhood Friday, and this year's lineup includes a guided "art walk" that will take participants on a tour of several local venues complete with drink specials, organizers said.
A 10-day celebration of the local arts scene, the festival will feature events and exhibits at dozens of bars, restaurants and stores.
Now in its the third year, the event was conceived to give area artists a place to display their work in the neighborhood, which lacks standard art galleries or studios.
"It's expanded — we have more venues, and this year we have almost double the amount of artists," said photographer and founder Lizabeth Nieves.
"Everyone is just really excited to see this growing community."
The festival will start Friday at 9 p.m. with a kickoff party at Front Toward Enemy, which will feature art and live music. Also that night, Nieves and Nur Asik will have a launch party for "Idlewild," their new Queens culture magazine, at Mar's starting at midnight.
Other events will take place throughout the week, with paintings, illustrations, photography and other works of art from more than 60 Queens artists will be on display at around 30 participating venues.
The "Art Walk" will take place Saturday, Oct. 18 from 3 to 8 p.m., and include stops to check out the art at five of the venues — Lockwood, Queens Kickshaw, Pachanga Patterson, Sweet Afton and William Hallet. Tickets for the tour costs $10 online and include happy hour drink specials at the stopping points, and a gift bag.
A closing party will take place that night at Old Prague, with live music and a group photography show.
For more information and full list of events, visit the Astoria Arts Festival website. A map of participating venues can be found here.
