A good crowd at ArtsFest.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 2 from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Athens ArtsFest, rain or shine. The festival is located on the grounds of Harlan Rowe Middle School in Athens, Pa., just off PA Route 220. Join them for this celebration of the arts and enjoy the entertainment, games, food, and a lineup of over 175 fine arts and crafts artisans.
The juried professional artists and craftspeople will welcome you at 10 a.m. to their collections of wheel-thrown pottery; hand-tooled belts and leather bags; metal and clay home and garden accents; fine art in watercolors, pen and ink, acrylic, oils, mixed medium, and colored pencil; pressed flower art; photography; hand-made hats; original crystal designs; hand blown decorative glass; hand-made accessories for pets; handcrafted jewelry; copper fire paintings; handcrafted wood products; quality artisan soaps, lotions and oils; pine needle baskets; and many more specialty art and craft creations. All work is juried and will be available for sale. Authors will be on hand for book signing, and a variety of artisans will demonstrate their craft throughout the two-day festival.
The clay tent, at ArtsFest.
There will be three outdoor stages featuring musicians. On Saturday, Greg Neff will kick off the live entertainment schedule on the North Stage, and Ali Grace and Mr. E. will start the music on the South Stage.
Saturday entertainment continues with The Penn York Highlanders Bagpipe Band. Wendee Peake will lead Purple Lightning, a youthful group from the Candor, N.Y. area. Athens graduate Laura Orshaw will return to the ArtsFest stage with Chasing Blue, a Boston-based acoustic bluegrass band.
Other Saturday entertainment will include more Athens grads, Justin Raynor and Chris Warren, with an acoustic mix of contemporary country and Southern rock with traditional roots. Flower City Vaudeville welcomes kids of all ages to come join the fun and clever antics as they entertain our ArtsFest crowd.
A popular funk, soul, and rock and roll band, Blue Eyed Soul will complete Saturday music. On Sunday, the very powerful funk, soul, and reggae band, Thousands of One, will kick off the music. The trio CRR brings a special twist to popular covers. The Red Eyes are back with high-energy classic rock, country and a few originals. The South Shore All-Stars play a variety of blues, soul, swing, bop and classic rock. The local band of Rebecca and the Soul Shakers will close out the north stage at 2:30 p.m. Another local favorite, John Palumbo, will close out the South Stage, performing hits from the 60s to the present.
Also performing on Saturday will be Alex Simmons and Dillon Ameigh with original electronic instrumental songs. The Athens High School Music Department will be performing under the tent within the loop of Artisans.
Back this year is our vintage car show. Registration is found at www.tinyurl.com/artsfestcars.
They will again offer the “Kids Corner” this year, entertaining your children with arts and crafts projects. The petting zoo is sponsored by the Athens Area School District’s agriculture science program.
You won’t want to miss the ever-popular clay tent where visitors can learn to “throw” on the potter’s wheel and create a unique clay sculpture. The event will offer horse and buggy rides and pony rides for adults and children. Aktion KWEST will again feature its miniature golf course, which will be held outside this year. Over 20 food vendors will offer a tempting assortment of meals, snacks and desserts.
The Athens ArtsFest is the first big arts festival of the season. It’s easy to find – simply take NY Route 17 (Future 86) to Exit 60. Follow signs to PA Route 220S and look for the ArtsFest signs. Traveling north on Route 220 watch for signs directing you to the ArtsFest.
For a detailed description of bands and times of performances, as well as a list of artisans and food vendors, visit www.athensartsfest.com.
