LEMONT — The atmosphere in and around State College this weekend will be even more festive this year as the second annual Lemont Fest gets underway.
During what is now known as “festival weekend” in the area, Lemont offers a third option to the local festival scene, providing what organizers describe as an “emerging arts festival” and a “unique alternative to Arts Fest and People’s Choice.”
Hosted by the Lemont Village Association, this free event is a celebration of local art, music and food. With vendors and exhibitors at both the Lemont Village Green and the historic Grain Elevator on Mount Nittany Road, the celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. Friday, July 15. The exhibits and vendors are open for business on Friday until 6 p.m., on Saturday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to Sean Bodley, artist coordinator for the festival, many local artists find that their work doesn’t fit in either the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts or People’s Choice. Now they have an opportunity to display their work at Lemont Fest, which seeks to highlight some of the best creative talent in the area, he said.
The festival showcases locally owned businesses and entrepreneurs. For Bodley, his main task this year has been finding artist vendors and managing online and print advertising and promotional materials. Last year, he participated as a vendor, selling his paintings.
“There are lots of new things (this year). We have almost doubled the number of vendors participating, including a fair number of new artists showing work. The Altman Family has generously donated three prints of Harold Altman’s that will be raffled during the festival,” said Bodley.
“There will be live demonstrations by several artists on their craft, including traditional printmaking, outdoor landscape painting, ceramics and gemstone carving. A free yoga class will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m., led by one of our vendors, Miya Matsui, on the Village Green. There will be a new antique car show alongside new bands, food and drinks.”
He said that an exciting exhibition will be happening at the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania during the festival. ‘Representing Nittany’ will feature a wide range of work from artists who are affiliated with Penn State (employees, students, alumni and spouses). The exhibit will be open both Saturday and Sunday throughout the day.
Sue Smith, LVA board chair, said that Amanda Kunkel, LVA board member, came up with the idea of Lemont Fest, and pitched it as a follow-up for the Lemont Christmas Market, which has traditionally been quite successful. Smith said that vendors wanted to do an additional market, and that’s how Lemont Fest came to be last year. It was a successful inaugural year for the festival, she said.
Smith said that the association is always looking for ways to raise money to continue to rehabilitate and maintain building and ground needs in the village.
“We no longer do the Haunted Granary, so we need to do other fundraising. The Haunted Granary raised a lot each year, so we didn’t do much else except the Strawberry Festival,” she said.
According to Bodley, more than 30 vendors will have booths set up inside and outside the Grain Elevator, and local food and beverage vendors will be located on the Village Green. Local bands will play throughout the afternoons on the Village Green stage, antique cars will be on display and there will be other artistic activities for children and adults. Speeder rides will be hosted by the Bellefonte Historic Railroad Society, and art activities will be hosted by the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, and other local artists.
He said that the art scene at Lemont Fest will be “magnificent.” Participating artists include some of the region’s finest painters, photographers, print makers, illustrators, sculptors, potters, quilters, jewelers and artisanal food crafters, spanning many styles. He said abstract art, landscapes, figurative work, portraits, narrative art and more will all be represented at the festival.
In terms of attendance, Smith said that about 1,800 people visited Lemont Fest last year over three days. That number only accounts for those who went through the Granary buildings, but does not include those who stayed outside. She said with increased publicity and some new features this year, she expects to see more people in attendance.
“We estimate that this year’s turnout will double last year’s. There are many more artists joining us this year who are inviting their personal followers and have engaged in a thorough advertising campaign that we believe will make the festival really pop.
“One benefit of hosting the event at the Historic Granary is that even in a downpour, festivalgoers and vendors will be able to continue their enjoyment of the festival inside.”
For more information, visit www.lemontvillage.org.
