Bellefonte blooms with arts fair

By Sherry Coven

Strike up the bands, crank up the snow cone machines, and put on your walking shoes: It’s time for the Bellefonte Arts and Crafts Fair.

CDT file photo

Toby Hazel, of Rogersville Alabama, tries on an accessory scarf handmade by Val Merrell, right, at the Bellefonte Arts and Crafts Fair Friday, August 15, 2008.

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The fair, now in its 26th year, will come alive on the streets of downtown Bellefonte today and Saturday, with more than 75 artists, crafters, and food vendors, as well as an abundance of live music.

Taking up much of the downtown area, the fair will stretch across the diamond in Bellefonte: Allegheny Street from Bishop to Howard Street and High Street from Allegheny to Spring Street.

Vana Dainty, Bellefonte Arts and Crafts Fair Co-chairman, described the fair.

“It’s a family environment with something for all ages. There are free children’s activities each day from 11:00 to 2:00, and this year, Tempest Studios, a local theatre company, will be having activities for children with a Dr. Seuss theme. On Saturday, Shaver's Creek will have their Birds of Prey show for fair-goers. This will all be taking place among booths of juried artists and great entertainment.” Some of that entertainment will be familiar to fair-goers of years past, while others will provide some new sounds. “We have a wide variety of performers and styles to please a broad range of tastes: Country, Swing, Blues, Rock, Soul, Folk, Jazz, and Contemporary,” said Tom Wilson, entertainment chair for the festival.

New to the fair are Folk/Americana group The Berrit Smylin Band, who, said Wilson, “will make you kick up your heels and go back in time.” Other newcomers are Hounds of Soul, doing Motown and Soul, and Centre Heritage Singers.

Some of the more familiar musical highlights include Dan Stevens, who will be performing with musician friend Chris D’Amato.

“These Delta Blues musicians,” said Wilson, “perform up and down the East coast and will be making a stop in town before heading to perform at the Allentown Music Festival. Dan and Chris were among the top 6 finalists in the prestigious Beal Street Blues Challenge.”

Also returning to the festival are acts such as Jazz band Slide Zone, performing standards as well as contemporary arrangements, and the Keystone Society of Swing, playing Big Band music of greats such as Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey.

With several new vendors this year, a wide variety of artist and crafter wares will be available: pottery, jams and jellies, floor cloths, jewelry, or more traditional art to take home for display.

Visitors can also enjoy the free parking at St. John's Lutheran Church, Faith United Church, and Bellefonte High School, and Fullington Bus Service has been contracted for shuttle service, certainly a bonus for anyone who’s ever attended such a large event.

One of the advantages of having the fair in downtown Bellefonte, according to Dainty, is what the location, itself, adds to the experience.

“The fair is situated so that fair-goers will get an opportunity to enjoy the town's lovely architecture and historic surroundings,” she said, “while they browse the booths, enjoy something tasty to eat, and listen to great entertainment all at the same time.”

Hours for the fair are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 14 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 15.

Live music

Aug. 14

• 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: singer-songwriter Jimmy Maynard

• noon: Centre Heritage Singers

• 1:30 p.m.: Blues musicians Dan Stevens, Chris D’Amato

• 3 p.m.: Folk by Berrit Smylin Band

• 6 p.m.: JP Rocks

• 8 p.m.: Hounds of Soul

Saturday

• 10 a.m.: Slide Zone

• 11:30 a.m.: Keystone Society of Swing

• 1 p.m.: Chris Woodward & Shindiggin

• 2:30 p.m.: Fat Girl Slim

• 4 p.m.: Bellefonte Community Band