Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 11-12—RUTLAND—All are invited to attend the Chaffee Art Center’s 57th Annual Art in the Park Summer Festival to be held on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11-12 in Main Street Park at the junction of routes 4 and 7 in Rutland. The show features juried fine artists, craftspeople, and specialty food producers. Rounding out the festival are food vendors, live music, kids’ activities, a community art project, pet area, and live demonstrations to include Calypso Consulting on steel drums, Carving Studio, 12 Tribes circle dancing, painting and more. Hours are from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. A voluntary donation is appreciated.
All types of handcrafts and fine art will be on exhibit and available for purchase at the outdoor festival. The visual arts are represented by a selection of oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics and photographs.
A full array of crafts will be featured: pottery, soaps, health and body products,candles, Vt. stone products, fiber items, jewelry, glass items, furniture, wooden items, and more. Specialty food producers will have samples of fudge, Greek products, hot fudge sauces, wine, and spirits. Demos of works in progress will be held throughout the weekend.
There will be food concessions selling food both days to include: BBQ King with cheeseburgers, cheesy chicken, fried cheese curds; Yellow Deli with wraps, sandwiches, smoothies, soup, chili, assorted desserts, fresh baked bread; Mama T’s Country Kitchen with pulled pork, brisket, mac and cheese, potato salad; and Vermont Shaved Ice with cool fun flavors. Plus, cinnamon roasted nuts, kettle corn, and fudge.
Opening the festival each day with live music will be Andy Lugo, followed by Moose Crossing. In the afternoon on Saturday, Bethany Conner will perform, with Miss Guided Angels on Sunday.
Free kids’ activities will be held under the Chaffee’s main tent throughout the weekend, including art projects, seed plantings, games, and more.
A special treat for the first 50 kids to visit the kid’s area: a free birdhouse kit from LaValley Building Supply. Plus, a community art project will be on display.
Back again this year are Chaffee Bucks. Entry into the drawings are free to attendees, and will be held hourly throughout each day under the main tent. Winners can spend the Chaffee Bucks during the festival weekend at any booth.
Art in the Park is Vermont’s oldest continuing arts tradition, and the Chaffee Art Center’s major fund-raising event, occurring twice yearly in mid-summer and autumn. Visit chaffeeartcenter.org.
