There’s no better way to fight the late winter blues than with a bright spot of culture on the Art Coast of Michigan. This much-needed ray of sunlight takes shape in the Art Out Loud Community Film Festival, featuring Mountainfilm on Tour. Raise your spirits with a weekend of storytelling in short documentaries designed to awaken the senses and inspire the mind. As a bonus, you can spend a soul-recharging weekend in Saugatuck/Douglas, enjoying great food, time outdoors, and even a little shopping.

If you’re planning a quick weekend escape to break up your day-to-day routine, consider visiting in late March, when you can check out the annual Art Out Loud Community Film Festival featuring Mountainfilm on Tour at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, March 24 and 25. During this unique event, you’ll be immersed in culture, stories, and traditions from around the globe, all through the lens of film, music, food, and more. Art Out Loud celebrates the intersection of visual, audio, and performance art in an experience that engages the senses and highlights the impact of artistic collaboration.

Kicking off the weekend-long event is a free, all-ages celebration at Saugatuck Dunes State Park from 6:00-8:00 pm. Beginning at the State Park parking lot, you’ll stroll down Beach Trail for a lantern-lit family-friendly hike. Grab a coffee or hot chocolate from Outside Coffee Company to fuel up for the adventure, and then join the SCA at its new Mobile Art Truck to make a paper lantern. Guests can also snag free giveaways from Woosah Outfitters and Landsharks. 

On Saturday, March 25, check out “Mountainfilm on Tour”—your opportunity to see award-winning short documentaries that debuted at the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, CO. First up is the Big Green World playlist, showing shorts inspired by nature and focused on creating a better future. Next, at 2:00 pm, audiences can enjoy Indomitable Spirit, a playlist of stories about people who refuse to give up in the face of adversity. This exciting day of films will close with the popular Medley playlist at 7:00 pm, a collection of extraordinary moments including extreme sports and outdoor adventure.

In addition to the screenings, Mountainfilm ticket holders can enjoy extra experiences, including a special tour of The Journal Project, the spring Exhibition by Saugatuck/Douglas-based artist Ruth Crowe. During this event, guests can mingle with Ruth, hear about her creative inspiration, and enjoy drinks and delicious small bites from the 2023 SCA Creative Fellow, Mindy Trafman. Between screenings, enjoy the Art Coast with special offers at other community partners in Saugatuck, Douglas, Fennville, and Holland. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.