Steamboat Springs — It will be all art, all the time during the next three days in Steamboat Springs as the Steamboat Springs Arts Council sponsors the 2016 All Arts Festival for the second year.

Downtown will be the center of activity with numerous special events, workshops and performances taking place Friday through Sunday. This year’s event is billed as a “Creative Circus,” and it promises to provide festival-goers with a mix of workshops, pop-up performances and artist exhibits.

To help you navigate the festival, I’ve studied the events schedule and consulted with several leaders in the arts community to create my top 5 picks for the weekend.

1) There’s nothing more thrilling then watching aerial artists perform. Relying on silk sheets to wrap their bodies as they dangle in the air, performances seem death-defying at times and are always graceful. Now, you will have your chance to give the art form a try during aerial workshops taught by local aerial performers as well as Front Range artists at Excel Gymnastics. On Saturday, there will be an introductory aerial fabric workshop offered from 1 to 2 p.m. and a beginner knot/sling workshop offered from 2 to 3 p.m. Workshops are open to anyone 12 and older unless they have previous aerial experience, and the cost is $50 per participant.

2) The Depot Art Center is the place to be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday for Creative Mixology, described as a party celebrating all art forms from dance to culinary creations. Beth Liggitt, said those who attend will enjoy small bites from the Drunken Onion and creative sips and will also be entertained by local artists presenting their works, which will include the spoken word, music and visual and performance art. If it’s anything similar to the Art Council’s Palettes event, it’s not be missed. Tickets are $25 per person.

3) The literary arts also will be showcased during the All Arts Festival at an authors showcase slated for 3 p.m. Sunday at Off the Beaten Path, 68th Ninth St. Local favorites Harriet Frieberger, Dagny McKinley and John Whittum will be the featured authors. They will read excerpts from their books and discuss what inspires them to write. The event is free, and books will be available for signing.

4) A sunrise photography workshop with adventure/lifestyle photographer Devon Barker will be worth getting up early for. It will be offered from 7 to 9 a.m. Sunday at the Yampa River Botanic Garden for a cost of $50 per person. The one-of-a-kind session will allow photographers to capture the graceful forms of aerial dancers performing at the park.

5) The art stroll returns to Yampa Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday featuring the work of over 80 artists from around the country. Admission is free, and libations can be purchased at the beer tent. This event will also provide an opportunity to stop by and watch Denver-based muralist Bobby MaGee in action as he creates a visually-stunning mural on the side of the Steamboat Meat and Seafood building at 1030 Yampa St.

Visit steamboatarts.org for ticket information and a full All Arts Festival schedule.