By GREG MATICS
Jackson Newspapers
RIPLEY, W.Va. — The second annual “Wild and Wonderful Arts & Crafts Festival” is set to open Friday at the Jackson County fairgrounds, and continues Saturday and Sunday, promising to be even bigger and better than the inaugural event last year.
(Submitted photo)
Festival hours are Friday , 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Shari Leavitt’s vision for a July 4 art and craft festival came true July 2-4, 2016, featuring homemade crafts, good music, good food and affordable prices. Leavitt, a long time crafter herself, saw the immediate need for a summer crafts festival in Jackson County, after the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair was moved to September, leaving its longtime participating artisans without a venue for the traditional July dates.
“It was an absolute success,” Leavitt said of her inaugural festival, “even with all the issues Mother Nature dealt to West Virginia just a few days beforehand. We had over 1,300 cars full of families, which is an awesome beginning! Thank you to the wonderful business owners that sponsored the 2016 festival. A total of 73 artisans joined us with an awesome variety of crafts!”
“I think having our festival at the County Farm is better,” said Leavitt. “I think people are excited about it. I want it to be affordable for everybody to come. I don’t want you to have to pay $50 for your family to just walk in the gate. It’s going to be very affordable—and fun.”
“The Wild and Wonderful Arts and Crafts Festival is dedicated to bringing the community together through arts and entertainment. We have an excellent lineup of artisans whose works include handmade crafts and local musicians. We also offer an excellent selection of food from well-known concessions in the area. Our mission is to provide a venue where artists around the country can share their work with a large audience. In addition, we also consider it our task to offer an occasion where people in Cottageville, WV and surrounding areas can share and enjoy an enjoyable Fourth of July weekend with their friends and family.”
Some 87 vendors will participate in this coming weekend’s second annual festival at Cottageville.
The entertainment schedule includes:
Friday. June 30
10: 30 a.m. Tricky Chaz Magic Show
12:30 p.m. Talking Across the Lines
2:30 p.m. Tim Litvin
4:30 p.m. Riverside Cloggers
Saturday, July 1
10:30 a.m. Tricky Chaz Magic Show
12:30 p.m. Top Notch Twirlers
2:30 p.m. Stevie Lynn
4:30 p.m. Thomas Roddy III
Sunday, July 2
10:30 a.m. Tricky Chaz Magic Show
1 p.m. The Wells Family
2:30 p.m. Chris Perdue
There will be painting classes at Art By Sherry’s tent on Friday 3-5 p.m.; Saturday 3-5 p.m.; and Sunday 2-4 p.m. The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for children (with limited seating)
Concessions will also be available at the festival.
Admission is $10 per car or $5 per person (if not parking on the grounds)
In addition, there will be free inflatables, free face painting, C’Moore Smiles, wood turning/burning demonstrations, painting demonstrations, basket weaving, chidren’s art tent, covered stage for impromptu entertainment in the dining area, Shuman Fab demonstrations, samples from gourmet food vendors, and much more.
For more information, check out the Wild and Wonderful Art & Craft Festival website at www.wildandwonderfulcrafts.com or festival’s Facebook page, Wild and Wonderful Arts & Crafts Festival.
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