Presented by The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission the 8th Newtown Arts Festival was another outstanding event. The festivities began Friday evening September 20th with the opening of the Wine and Beer Garden, food trucks, and the musical duo Chris Daly, and Connor Brennan. The evening headliner band The Merchants of Rhythm featured Dave Boyle, Chris Durham, David Wheeler, Freddie Merrill, Butch Bochino,, John Zulli, with special guest Jim Allyn.
Between Friday night, Saturday and Sunday approximately 5,000 visitors attended the festival. The weather was beautiful all three days with blue skies, and temperatures in the 80's. Under the big tent attendees enjoyed dining on a wide selection of delicious snacks and meals offered by a large variety of food trucks. For those who liked to shop vendors selling everything from handmade drums to leather hats and between. Displayed on the grounds were large steel sculptures by James Travers of Newtown, and an impressive display of larger than life seashell sculptures by Chandler Davis.
For sale were T-shirts and posters displaying a heart, the 2019 festival theme. The heart artwork was created by Newtown's Paula Brinkman winner of the festival artist contest. She is known as the painter of hearts on pavement. Paula also oversaw heart paintings of 222 reusable bags courtesy of PeaceLove Art who donated the bags and painting supplies.
Entertainment Saturday:
Dan and Pete's Kids Hour
Paul Green Rock Academy
Wool Hats String Band
Jim Allyn Band
An Evening of the Arts, Saturday
New England New Music Ensemble
Poetry readings by Phillip Gross of Newtown
Town Players of Newtown actors performed a musical, the first in their 80 year history
Shivani Mendiratta, Newtown HS Senior winner Masters of Musical Whistling competition
Entertainment Sunday:
The Nighthawks, Newtown Marching Band
Julia Rhodes
Riki Steven
Good News Gospel Choir
Alpaca Gnomes
Dance Saturday:
Senior Center Line Dancers
Graceful Planet and Extreme Cheer
Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet
XFitma
Martha Graham Modern Master Class with guest artist Steve Rooks
Dance Etc.
Dance Sunday:
Bollywood
Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance
CT Dance
XFitma
Bring the Hoopla
Make and Take Tent Saturday and Sunday
Gel Press Printmaking
Library Card Notebooks
Islamic Tile Designs
Cardboard University
Worry Dolls
All Weekend: Tatting and Knitting Demonstrations, Cool Down and Color
Art Oasis Saturday and Sunday:
Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN)
Art of Science Tent Saturday and Sunday
3 Easy Steps to Improve Your Photos by Rhonda & Chane Cullens
Build a Kaleidoscope
Create Iridescent Artwork
Tips for Sports Photography
Exploding Rocket Art
Color Spinners
Art of Farming Tent Sunday:
Home Beer Brewing by Mark Tambascio, owner of NewSylum
Container/Hay Bale Gardening
Permaculture
Compost and Recycling
All Things Bees
Home Beer Brewing Conclusion
Fiber Arts Tent Saturday and Sunday
Pompom Pals
Nuno Felting
Punch Needle Demo
Spin with a friend
Felt Magic
All day Saturday: Fiber Fairy, Weaving, Needle Felting, Spinning
All Day Sunday: Fiber Fairy, Crochet & Knitting, Needle Felting, Spinning
Everwonder Children's Museum Saturday and Sunday
Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, Title Sponsor
Regent Wealth, Entertainment Tent Sponsor
Newtown Savings Bank, Tent Sponsor
Leverage Marketing Group, Tent Sponsor
Newtown Parks and Recreation, Band Sponsor
The Newtown Bee, Media Sponsor
Ken and Laura , Patron
Business Sponsors:
Keno Graphics, Regent Wealth Management Group, Renewal by Anderson Window Replacement, eFriend Marketing Agency, Associated Refuse Haulers, Webster Bank, The Laurel Rock Co., MerryHill Child Care Center, Zephyr Lock, Dental Associates, ST. Rose of Lima
A big thank you to all who worked tirelessly to make this such a successful festival:
Jen Cebry, Chairman
Tracy Van Buskirk
Jim Cebry
Jen Guman
Mike Guman
Craig Harmeling
Rob Kaiser
Susan Kassirer
Suzanne Lang
Laura Lerman
Ken Lerman
Elaine Martin
Grant Ossendryver
Terry Sagedy
Andrea Spencer
Deborra Zukowski
Newtown Cultural Art Commission Members:
Laura Lerman -Chair
Andrea Spencer -Vice Chair
Tracy Van Buskirk -Secretary
Jim Cebry -Treasurer
Rob Kaiser
Susan Kassirer
Suzanne Lang
Grant Ossendryver
Deborra Zukowski
All Images Copyright © Photo & Video Art Works and Marleen Cafarelli. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited by law