Successful Pop Up Starts the STRUT 2018 Season

By Carlen Ruth Hultgren
On a warm, and thankfully rain-free, Memorial Day Sunday, the second annual Holy Taco Pop Up and Artists market invaded the corner of Glenwood and Haas, in East Atlanta Village (EAV). The event hosted over 40 diverse vendors, including fine artists, printmakers, clothes makers, crafts people, jewelers, and more. Many of these artists were excited to return after the initial pop up last year.
There was live music courtesy of local bands Chickens & Pigs, BlackFox, and And that Is Why, and DJs El Camino Boyz performing live in the parking lot at Motor City South. A 1$ raffle was held which raised hundreds of dollars to benefit the Strut, and made many supporters happy with the prizes they won, which included original items from Pop Up artists and EAV souvenirs.
And our new favorite East Atlanta residents, the llamas from the Southeast Llama Rescue made their appearance early to the delight of kids, adults, and the selfie obsessed. One of the raffles winners will get the chance to lead a llama in the EAV Strut Parade on September 22.
Many thanks go to Chris and Leah, two tireless Strut volunteers, who organized the market and to Robert of Holy Taco, a long time Strut supporter, who hosted the event.
The Strut is also looking for artists to design this year’s t-shirt. Try your hand at creating the new commemorative T-shirt for the 2018 East Atlanta Strut. The winner will get a $50 cash prize, four drink tickets for the Strut, and two free T shirts; will be featured on the Strut’s social media page and website; and will have the chance to be a part of the 2018 Strut branding. The deadline for submissions is July 31 at 11:59pm.
Want to submit a T shirt design? Interested in volunteering? Want to sponsor the Strut? Do you want a booth? Or do you just want to know what this “Strut thing” (only the best street festival in Atlanta!) is about. Check out the website www.EastAtlantaStrut.com or the Strut Facebook Page for all the details.
The big event takes place on September 22 from 11:00am to 9:00pm, so save the date. Now in its 21st year, the East Atlanta Strut is a community organized, one-day street festival, featuring music, art and events to raise money for neighborhood charities and organizations, and support local businesses. In 2017 the Strut gave $27,000 in grants to local organizations and is totally supported by a diligent group of volunteers that work most months of the year organizing the festival as well as the 200 or so who take a couple hours or more that day to help run the best community festival around.