Arts fest set for Sept. 12 at Lourdes
6/9/2010The Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting artist registrations for its annual Arts and Crafts Festival to be held Sept. 12 at Lourdes College.
The event is one of the largest single-day festivals of its kind in the United States and is the chamber's primary fund-raiser. It is run cooperatively by the chamber, the Sisters of St. Francis, Lourdes College, and Sylvania merchants who are major sponsors and donors. Two hundred or more juried arts and crafts artisans typically participate.
The festival awards best-of-show winners in fine arts and crafts. Besides that competition, the event features regional entertainment, refreshments, and an expanded children's area during show hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The deadline for artisans to register is July 28, and a 10-foot-by-20-foot booth space costs $135. Reservations and booth assignments are taken and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Merchants must provide their own tables and tents.
Festival applications may be downloaded from the chamber of commerce's Web site, sylvaniachamber.org, or may be obtained by calling 419-882-2135.
Show set-up occurs on Sept. 11, with check-in starting at 6 a.m. the day before.
Admission costs $2. Free parking is offered at Sylvania Northview High School, with shuttle service to the festival grounds from there and from downtown Sylvania and Harroun Park.
This year's festival sponsors are The Blade, Buckeye CableSystem, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, and the City of Sylvania in partnership with the Sisters of St. Francis, Lourdes College, Kingston-Sylvania, and Paramount Health Care.