Organizers sure know how to pick a great weekend for their event. With sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s, you can’t beat our weather at this time of year for an outdoor festival. Oval Park in Heathrow is this year’s site.
The juried show will distribute $20,000 in award money to 28 artists. You can expect entries in a wide range of categories:
Painting: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor
Photography
Digital
Drawings/Graphics/Pastels
Sculpture
Jewelry
Mixed Media
Wood
Glass
Clay/Ceramics
Fiber/Leather/Textile
Festival hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The festival draws artists from across the country and is designed to inspire an appreciation for quality art forms. As an added bonus for local students, the festival distributes $10,000 in scholarships to Seminole County high school seniors desiring a higher education.
Jo Ann Lucarelli, chairman of artist support, said that the festival has a huge impact on the Seminole County economy. “It’s bigger than people think,” she says, noting that the influx of people for the show boosts spending in lodging, retail, restaurant, and other conveniences.
Lucarelli’s mammoth job is made easier with the help of students from Seminole State who volunteer as part of their community service projects. Seminole State’s Mauricio Garcia has given the college students a channel for their energy and has been a huge help to the operations of such a big event.
The festival grounds are located near the intersection of International Parkway and Lake Mary Boulevard. Access from Interstate 4 is Exit 98, for Lake Mary Boulevard. Travel west and look for parking signs. The festival is free.
For complete details, go to the festival website at www. lakemaryheathrowarts.com.
Spirits are bright at Jeanine Taylor Folk Art
With Halloween crossed off the calendar, it’s a speedy race to the holiday shopping season. At Jeanine Taylor Folk Art, this weekend marks the opening of her annual holiday folk art show, Making Spirits Bright.
On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the gallery will be hosting an open house with refreshments and a plethora of holiday ornaments, gifts, décor, and of course – folk art.
For this annual event, Taylor curates a show made up of some of folk art’s all stars, like John “Cornbread” Anderson, Theresa Disney, Roy Minshew, and Ruby C. Williams.
In addition, the gallery is chock full of an eye-pleasing and spirit-lifting collection of holiday décor, ornaments, and unique gifts. From chocolate Santas (the kind that won’t melt) to hand made terra cotta ornaments, there’s a gift for everyone on your list, including yourself!
The open house is free and the show runs until Dec. 31. The gallery is at 211 E. 1st St.
Messiah singalong planned
Seminole State College, in conjunction with the Seminole Messiah Choral Society, will host its 11th annual “Messiah” Sing-Along rehearsal, directed by Dr. Burt H. Perinchief, on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus Fine Arts concert hall (building G).
On Nov. 14, the college and the choral society will host the 11th annual “Messiah” Sing-Along, also directed by Dr. Burt H. Perinchief. The singalong will also take place at 3 p.m. in the concert hall (building G).
All community members are invited to attend the non-concert format rehearsal and singalong of Handel’s “Messiah,” Coopersmith Edition.
The events are free and open to the public.
For more information on cultural events at Seminole State, visit www.seminolestate.edu/arts, or call 407.708.2040.
MK Shaw can be reached at mkshaw79@yahoo.com.