This year, Happy Llama celebrates 15 years as the Cherry Creek Arts Festival Official Print Sponsor. Owner of Happy Llama, Ira Johnson, still remembers the first festival that Happy Llama sponsored so many years ago! Through the years, the partnership and the festival has exponentially grown and changed, but Happy Llama remains the Official Print Sponsor.
About Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Cherry Creek Arts Festival (CCAF) is organized by Cherry Arts, “a nonprofit organization committed to the mission of providing access to art experiences and supporting arts education in Colorado.” They are also responsible for the growing Denver Chalk Arts Festival.
With over 255 distinguished and emerging artists, the world renown art festival is a celebration of visual, performing and culinary arts.
Happy Llama’s Alliance With Cherry Creek Arts Festival
For over 15 years, Happy Llama has been the Official Print Sponsor for Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
The relationship started as a simple sponsorship table in the VIP area in 2008 (we still have sticky note pads floating around from that first year!). Today, Happy Llama to provides most of the printing for the entire festival including artist and volunteer gifts, staff shirts, event signage, and of course, event merchandise. It has been a wild ride that the whole Happy Llama team loves and appreciates!
The Role of Official Print Sponsor
Starting every year in January, Happy Llama fills a consultant role within the arts festival organizational meetings. Happy Llama spends seven months creatively planning, coordinating projects, and helping the CCAF team prepare for the best festival experience.
Essentially, Happy Llama becomes part of the Cherry Creek staff for half of the year, which allows for a more cohesive event.
Ira Johnson explains, “This is the only festival that gives us a work of art that we recreate into a specific merchandise line. We take the artist’s original work of art and create not only t-shirts, but also scarves, blankets, socks and hats. It’s exciting to see the event come alive with that art.”
Cherry Creek Arts Festival Comes to Life
If you have never visited the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, it is a must-do. Even if you are not an art lover, there are other activities that create a unique experience, including live music, culinary arts, and performing arts. This is an award-winning festival because the Cherry Arts team creates an intentional world for your heart, soul and mind to experience.
Add Cherry Creek Arts Festival, July 1-3, to your calendar this summer. Make sure to stop by the Happy Llama Merchandise Tent to grab some fun merch!
