Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The annual Village of Winona Art Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, displaying the workmanship of artists from all over the Midwest as well as Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
Hours for the event are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. A food court, carriage rides and a kids art activity tent will be available to all visitors.
Display booths for artists will be located throughout the Artisan Court on Park Avenue and along Canal Street. Artists will showcase various mediums including photography, jewelry, sculpture and fiber arts, as well as many others.
Shops and galleries normally within the village will be open throughout the event.
The village expects to present 75 artists during the weekend. This tops the highest total of artisans in the festival-s six-year history.
"We're very pleased with this year's turnout," said Mary Pat Wallen, of the Village's Park Avenue Galleries. "The word is out about the art fair, and the quality of talent applying this year has been wonderful."
The Village of Winona estimates the festival will draw a crowd of 8,000 to 10,000 people wishing to purchase various artistic pieces.
"This weekend is a great improvement for business in the area," Wallen said. "Not only do we have the initial traffic of the art fair, but we have customers return weeks afterwards looking for the larger dollar pieces."
The art fair is sponsored by purchase awards bought by local companies and individuals who desire to attract artists into the area. With the sponsorship for these awards, artists are guaranteed a certain allotment of money to be spent on their galleries.
All donators will have the chance to shop inside the festival one hour before it opens to the public and are invited to a private dinner with the artists.
The art fair also will host live entertainment from the Jaenicke String Quintet, classical guitarist Steven Suvada and harpist Alicia Felts Wedertz. These concerts will be free to the public.
