2009 Riverwalk Arts & Crafts Festival Saturday, August 15

Banner Elk, NC  – Gather the family and get ready for fun, the return of an old tradition is upon us -- the 2009 Riverwalk Arts and Crafts Festival.  For more than 30 years the Avery Arts Council has hosted artisans from all over the southeast in a juried fine arts and crafts marketplace.    Newland’s own Riverwalk Park is once again the site for more than sixty vendors who will display their wares this Saturday, August 15, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Art comes in all shapes and styles, from hand crafted flutes, wood working, quilted hand bags and accessories, to handmade lamp shades, all shapes and sizes of jewelry, as well as paintings, sketches, and prints.  The always popular Children’s Corner features exciting new activities this year – a visit with real live critters from the Genesis Wildlife Rehab Center, and a chance to make an original piece of art to keep.  The Scrap Exchange, an ecology-minded group of artists from Raleigh, is bringing a vanload of interesting bits and pieces that can be transformed into one-of-a-kind creations by kids of all ages.  And of course it wouldn’t be the Riverwalk Festival without the creative talents of Avery’s Face Painter Extraordinaire – Trish Daniels.  The kids will have almost as much to see and do as the grownups will at the booths!

Make a day of it.  Have lunch at the park from one of the food concessions; there are lots of places for a picnic along the river.  The Arts Council has also revived the program of live entertainment, and there will be music from 11 to 2 at the park bandstand.  Featured acts include bluegrass from CreekSide Grass and bagpipe tunes from Rebecca Witt.  There might even be an Elvis sighting!

The Festival’s home site is again at Newland’s Riverwalk Park, which makes parking a snap.  Simply park in the lot at the Lowes Grocery store and stroll on over.  The Riverwalk Arts and Crafts Festival takes place on Saturday, August 15, from 9am-5pm. For more information, contact the Avery Arts Council office at 828-898-4292, or visit www.averycountyartscouncil.org

Download the pdf 2009 Riverwalk Arts Festival Vendor Application -- Coming end of Feb. 2010 -- 2010 Application