The second Friday of each month, downtown Mobile’s Lower Dauphin (LoDa) Arts District hosts its ArtWalk from 6 to 9 p.m. The event, organized by the Mobile Parks & Recreation Department and the Mobile Arts Council, has been drawing visitors to Dauphin Street for several years. Spring Hill College only being a 20-minute drive away makes this a perfect event to attend for any students interested in art and wanting to get involved in Mobile culture.
The ArtWalk spans several blocks of downtown Mobile, with vendors and performers setting up along Dauphin Street. Local artists display their work on sidewalks and in storefront spaces, while musicians perform at various locations throughout the district. A designated Performance Zone operates at the corner of Dauphin Street and Hamilton Street, where scheduled acts perform throughout the evening. The performances range from solo acoustic sets to larger musical groups, depending on the month. The event typically features 30 to 50 vendors, including visual artists selling paintings, jewelry, pottery, and handmade crafts. Food trucks and local restaurants also participate, setting up booths or offering special menus during ArtWalk hours. Milan Hargrove, senior at Spring Hill College, states, “I did find The Haunted Bookstore, which is really cool and has quickly become one of my favorite places to visit downtown.” Artist participation varies month to month, with some regulars appearing consistently and others rotating in and out. The Mobile Arts Council coordinates vendor applications, though specific requirements and selection processes are handled internally. Each ArtWalk incorporates a different theme, which influences vendor selection and programming. Past themes have included seasonal celebrations, awareness months, and cultural observances. These themes are promoted through the event’s social media channels and website. Senior Isabella Webster followed the ArtWalk on Instagram to keep up with new themes and announcements.
The event typically draws several hundred to over a thousand attendees, depending on weather and the time of year. Visitors include families, young adults, and older residents, creating a diverse mix of attendees walking through the downtown area. Junior Patrick Phelan found his first ArtWalk through friends; “Some friends recommended it, so we decided to check it out together. It was a great experience, and we’ve been attending regularly since then.” Many college students use the event as an opportunity to explore downtown Mobile with friends as a way to discover the local arts scene. Some have found that the relaxed, open atmosphere makes it easy to strike up conversations with artists or other attendees. Junior Taylor Jackson expresses, “I always like to see someone from Spring Hill when I go, which is pretty much every time. It is one of the only other events other than Mardi Gras that I see so many people gathered in the streets as one community.” The ArtWalk continues monthly throughout the year, with the next event scheduled for Friday, October 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the LoDa Arts District. If you want to attend or participate in the ArtWalk, visit https://mobilearts.org/art-walk/ for more information.
