Festival season is upon us and we say, “Bring it on.” Norwalk is always festival central, what with the annual September oyster festival. This weekend, though, the city plays host to the Norwalk Art Festival, featuring more than 150 artists and artisans displaying examples of their crafts in wood, wearable and decorative fiber, metal, leather, painting, sculpture, printmaking, glass, ceramics and jewelry, all in Mathews Park. There will demonstrations, hands-on art projects in the Art Workshop area and plenty of complimentary art supplies for inspired children and adults to enjoy throughout the weekend event.
“The Norwalk Art Festival is unique not only because it offers such a wide variety of work from so many highly-skilled artisans from all over the country, but also because visitors have an opportunity to get inspired as well,” says Sue Brown Gordon, the museum festival organizer. “Here you can find something beautiful for your home and learn about the creative process, too.” “We hope that by providing the opportunity and inspiration, visitors will also have fun creating and sharing their own artwork while at the art festival.”
Among those who will be doing just that is Mayor Harry Rilling, who will create an artwork at noon June 27 to inaugurate the festival, which also includes international cuisine and musical performances. The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, whose current exhibits include the Miniature Print Show, will be open during festival hours. The Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum will offer special discounted mini tours. Stepping Stones Children’s Museum will also be open. Many exhibitors will provide discounts to museum and art center members.
The free fest takes place, rain or shine, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27 and 28 in Mathews Park, 295 West Ave. Visitors are asked to park in Mathews Park or in the SoNo area.
For information, visit NorwalkArtFestival.org or call 518-852-6478.
Keeping with the festival theme, Crabtree’s Kittle House welcomes guests June 30 at 6 p.m. in Amy’s Garden to celebrate the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF) with small bites, sparkling wine and a martini menu – all for a special price and a great cause. The Tap Room and Dining Room menus will also be available, and guests who come for dinner can mention that they are there to support the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival so proceeds from their meal will also benefit CCBF. The Kittle House will donate 30 percent of the “Sparkle for a Cause” proceeds to the book fest.
The event is sponsored by the Amy Marie Crabtree Foundation, named for the wife of John Crabtree, who passed away after a valiant fight with brain cancer four years ago. Amy was a passionate person who felt strongly about causes that helped women, children and helpless animals, and the Foundation raises funds for charitable organizations that support her favorite causes.
The two-year-old Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is an annual “happening” every fall in the heart of the hamlet. Its mission is to create, sustain and nurture a culture of literacy in partnership with the community and schools. The free, public event fosters a love of reading as families meet and greet outstanding creators of books for children of all ages. The “Sparkle for a Cause” evening will help raise funds to give book fest gift cards to less fortunate children. The festival will take place on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bell Middle School.
Meanwhile, reservations are suggested for the June 30 fundraiser at the Kittle House, 11 Kittle Road, 914-666-8044.
For more on the book fest, visit ccbfestival.org. – Georgette Gouveia
