WheatonArts and Cultural Center is celebrating its 20th year of the Festival of Fine Craft on Oct. 6 and 7, rain or shine! This event, sponsored by OceanFirst, features the works of 150 contemporary and traditional artists and crafts people. Throughout the WheatonArts campus, artists working in clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed medium, wearable art, wood and more will showcase and sell their works of art. Special demonstrating artists during the festival include Pauletta Berger of Handwovens by Pauletta, wood carvers Art Parkin and Hop Edwards, Allan Feinberg of Art in Coin and many more! A full list of artists and demonstrations can be found at wheatonarts.org.
The crowd-favorite “Glass Pumpkin Patch” will be located across from the WheatonArts Pottery Studio this year. The patch will offer more than 6,000 glass pumpkins in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, each of which have been uniquely handcrafted by WheatonArts’ resident glass artists. All of the glass pumpkins will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting arts educational programming at WheatonArts. Included with festival is a Beer & Wine Garden (Permit #60984), featuring Cape May Brewery and Bellview Winery. South Jersey’s own PackageGoods Orchestra will perform music for audiences of all ages. A variety of specialty and gourmet food vendors will line the food court with refreshments for purchase.
Families are invited to engage in the creative process during the festival by participating in complimentary art making activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, thanks to a special “PNC Arts Alive!” grant. Artistic hands-on opportunities, like creating your own silk scarf, aluminum casting and basket weaving, are available throughout the grounds for additional fees.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine. Fees are $10 adults, $9 senior adults and $7 students. Children five and under are free. Festival special: Admission ticket grants access for both days with a Tomorrow Pass, available upon request when exiting the festival. Parking and shuttle service are free of charge. For more information, call (856) 825-6800 or (800) 998-4552, or visit www.wheatonarts.org.