The Boalsburg Heritage Museum will welcome approximately 30 local artists and craftspeople representing a range of diverse mediums to its grounds for its first Arts & Crafts Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
In many ways, the fair is a labor of love, organized by Boalsburg residents, for Boalsburg residents.
Local artist and event committee member Claire Lorts lives less than a block from the museum. A conversation with Heather Ricker-Gilbert, a member of the museum’s board of directors, sparked her involvement with the event.
“In Boalsburg, people walk around a lot. You see people outside and so you have conversations, and [Ricker-Gilbert] just stopped and we were talking… about how COVID has been hard on artists and has been hard on the museum,” Lorts explains. “[Ricker-Gilbert] got the idea of maybe having some kind of art event or festival on the museum grounds, since there’s this beautiful property behind the museum that’s very seldom used. This could benefit both the museum for awareness and be a fundraiser for the museum, and it could help local artists and feature local artists.”
The first Boalsburg Heritage Museum Arts & Crafts Fair is not the only new, arts-focused event to pop in Centre County this season. However, to help the event stand apart from the crowd, a later summer date was chosen and Lorts notes the fair will have a very strong community focus.
Beyond the arts and crafts vendors, food and drinks will be provided by local vendors as well, including Bees Knees Coffee, the Cakeshop by Tati and Moody Culture Kombucha. Lighter event refreshments were chosen to help provide business for Boalsburg’s restaurant scene.
“Kelly’s is across the street and Duffy’s and Angelo’s Pizza are down the road. You can go there for a happy hour drink or dinner after the event,” Lorts says.
While the event is free, there will be a donation station to support the Boalsburg Heritage Museum. The museum will be open for exhibit tours during the fair. It is currently featuring an exhibit arranged by Debra and Charles Nydegger entitled “Historic Outbuildings and Forgotten Customs.”
“We always appreciate donations to the museum in order to improve our grounds and outbuildings, which will provide enhanced space for community activities and events,” Ricker-Gilbert says. Future plans include expanding exhibit and lecture space to some of the other buildings on the museum’s property, and volunteers are currently working on projects in the gardens and wetlands, incorporating native plants into the landscape.
The Boalsburg Heritage Museum is located at 304 E. Main St. Free parking for the fair is available on the street and in the Kelly’s Steak and Seafood rear gravel lot. Attendees are advised to follow CDC guidelines in regards to masking and social distancing while at the event.
“It’s going to be a really fun event and it’s going to bring the community together,” Lort says. “Just come out and support. You’re supporting both our little museum… and you’re coming to help support the local artists, and there will be live music, so you’re supporting our local musicians as well. It’s a really great way to bring the community together.”
More information about the Boalsburg Heritage Museum Arts & Crafts Fair can be found on the museum’s Facebook page.
