The Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s Old Bakery and Emporium will host the Third Annual Midsummer Festival on Saturday, June 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Old Bakery and Emporium, located at 1006 Congress Ave. The festival is free and offers family-friendly activities for all ages.
The event features various cultural activities such as traditional Swedish treats from Fika Table, flower crown-making stations, a traditional Swedish Maypole, hair braiding and face painting, an artist talk by local milliner Mamie Raynaud, Mom & Pops Frozen Pops, traditional Swedish meatballs while supplies last, and live music.
Additionally, the Old Bakery and Emporium will unveil a new mural by Ruben Esquivel, a fifth-generation Austinite and artist of Latino and Indigenous descent. This mural is the first painted at the historic site and represents its rich culture and history. Esquivel was selected through public engagement activities to create this artwork.
Built in 1876 by Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg, the Old Bakery hosts the Midsummer Festival as a tribute to its Swedish-American heritage. The mural project is supported by the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation's Writing on the Walls program in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation and the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department.
“As part of the Old Bakery and Emporium’s Midsummer Festival, the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation is excited to celebrate the mural installation,” said Raasin McIntosh, VP of Active Urbanism at Downtown Austin Alliance. “The Foundation is honored to work with the Old Bakery Emporium to bring a mural to life honoring the rich history of the area. Writing on the Walls is dedicated to creating art in public spaces in downtown Austin.”
Writing on the Walls is an annual series of collaborative public art installations launched by Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation in March 2020. This initiative aims to enhance public spaces while encouraging social engagement within Austin's community.
About Downtown Austin Alliance:
The Downtown Austin Alliance works with key stakeholders including property owners, residents, business owners, community organizations, and government officials to advance downtown Austin's vision for safety, cleanliness, and appeal.
About Austin Parks Foundation:
For over three decades, Austin Parks Foundation has been enhancing public parks through volunteerism, programming advocacy, financial support investing over $80 million since its inception in 1992.
About Writing on the Walls:
Writing on the Walls fosters creative environments that improve public spaces while empowering Austinites through community-driven initiatives celebrating city spirit.