Arts Group Draws Up Plans For Monongahela Festival

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
15 August 2015
By Mary Pickels
 
The event coordinator for a new festival in Monongahela hopes it will prove popular enough to stage on a yearly basis.

“We have had amazing people donating their time and talent to make this special,” Tammy Sprinkle said.

Sprinkle is overseeing the Artisans and Craftsmen on the Mon event End of Summer Bash Festival, scheduled at the city's Aquatorium Aug. 22-23.
Planned to showcase the region's many talented artists, it follows the success of May's second Stroll, Shop n Sip event.

Sprinkle called the free festival the “first annual,” with anticipation that it will grow each year.

“We are a community organization trying to bring the surrounding communities and the local community together through art,” she said.
Artisans and Craftsmen on the Mon is seeking nonprofit status, Sprinkle added.

The festival entertainment lineup includes Abby Abbonanza and Jr. Guthrie of Hillbilly Way; Chad, Johnny and Joel Graham and Jeff Dorrance of Cross Creek; Tommy Kal of Birmingham; Skyline Heartbeat; Drew Johnson; Steve Ventura; and students from the Top Music Shop.

Artisans scheduled to offer wares include Nightwisp Designs (blown glass), New Life Art (up cycled jewelry), DJ's Crystal Garden (glass garden art), Original Glass Worx (blown glass), L&M Now and Then (crafts), Bedeck (upcycled painted furniture), Aura Designs, Bone Appetite Barkery (dog items), Starr Glass (stained glass), Fashionably Chic (baby items), Ducky's Pens, Kenna's Kreations, Can It, Wrap Yourselves in Love (crochet), Bella Paese (candles, wreaths), Simon's Wood Crafts, Ragged Edge Farm (soap), Connie's Country Creations, Knepshield's sewing and crafts, Fancy Leaf Designs (dog items, jewelry), Dana Bell Photography, Tammy's Reclaimed Decor, Becky Keck Pottery and Ebony's Jewelry Boutique.

Festival food favorites vendors will offer fudge, baked goods, Italian ice, cotton candy, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, haluski, hot sausage and Plum Run Winery.
A balloon artist and caricature drawings will be available.

The festival will celebrate art and music's contributions to the region's culture, and is aimed at also boosting the Mon Valley's economy, Sprinkle said.

Monongahela has worked to bring more residents and visitors to the newly renovated Aquatorium, where weekend concerts are held throughout the summer.
Sprinkle called it the “perfect setting for the art and music festival.”

“For two days, the (festival) is going to be filled with live entertainment, artisans, craftsmen, food and fun for the kids,” she said.

A local graphic shop has donated T-shirts as a thank you to performers, and other donations and vendor reservations have rolled in steadily, Sprinkle said.

“It truly amazes me how generous people can still be today. We are blessed to have such great folks offer their talent in a way that will bring enjoyment to several communities,” she said.

Events are scheduled from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 22 and from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 23.

Mary Pickels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/washington/8891758-74/festival-sprinkle-glass#ixzz3j9NyJzXp