As a precaution on Friday, Harvesting the Arts was delayed one day just in case the weather was bad.
SAINT JOHN – As FUSION’s Harvesting the Arts festival enters its seventh year, main organizer Jessica Gozdzierski wants to make the festival “bigger and better” than in the past.
“Harvesting the Arts Festival started as a FUSION event on the Market Square Boardwalk and the pier around the Hilton, now part of Harbour Passage,” Gozdzierski said.
“The idea was artists showing work at tables along the boardwalk toward the Hilton and then along the Hilton boardwalk was food from Hilton’s kitchen.
“Down the boardwalk toward King Street were more artist tables and the dancers and musicians had the stage at Market Square in front of more restaurants giving samples. The circle at Market Square was the kids’ circle.”
This year, the festival takes place in King’s Square in uptown Saint John on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The event was originally scheduled for today, but was moved back a day in anticipation of Hurricane Earl.
As in the past, the festival will highlight the best in music, food and arts the province – specifically Saint John – has to offer.
“There’s the music portion of it where we have a stage and musicians and bands perform that are local to Saint John. Then we also have tables set up for artists and food vendors and artisans. We try and fill up King’s Square,” Gozdzierski said.
“We also have the food alley portion of the festival, where food vendors that are local are able to sell their food to the public.”
Harvesting the Arts is free of charge, and Gozdzierski said there will be a tent that the musicians will play under and seating will be available.
Local band Girls Would Kill are headlining the musical entertainment, with other acts scheduled to perform.
“A lot of (the musicians) performed last year and they were really well-liked by the crowd. A few of them are new,” Gozdzierski said.
She added the festival’s organizers are always looking for new people to get involved in Harvesting the Arts.
“We love to see new people, that’s what it’s all about.”
Harvesting the Arts is all about uncovering the hidden arts talent in the area.
“It definitely uncovers emerging artists, whether they’re musicians or painters or food vendors. I think it makes people more aware of them,” Gozdzierski said.
“It’s getting bigger as the years go by. It’s a really great festival to highlight local talent from around New Brunswick.”
The name itself represents both the time of year that the festival is held in and the purpose of the festival, Gozdzierski said.
“The name Harvesting the Arts, not only does it make reference to when it takes place but it also makes reference to what’s happening at the festival and how we’re harvesting and gathering local art and artists and musicians.”
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Artists: SudsMuffin, Christy Clarke, Tracy Gavin, Zitawear, Erin Howell Sharpe, Sheila Howell, Jennifer Nicholls, Krista Hasson, Nawal Doucette, Leanne Grey, Jocelyn Bichard, Doreen Boyd, Mary Collier Fleet, Van Martin, Alison Smith, Gillian Salmon, Scott Marshall, Mallory Driscoll, Kate Thorne, Pallavi Singh, Chylynn Brideau, Emma Barlow, Abby Matthews, Dafna Mildenberger, Sarah Jones, Jocelyn Bichard, Sarah Gautreau, Andrea Locke, Angela Black, Yolande Clark, Joel Bustard. Roxanna Morrow, Marissa Rignanesi, Heather Rice, Kathy Rumson, Donna Mackinnon, Fabiola Martinez and Jacqueline Marcoux.
Musicians: Girls Will Kill, Josh Peters and True Grit, Mike Biggar, Keith Facey, December Fall Out, Quonset, Meatus, Kristina Trites, Earthbound Trio, Meka, Mitch and Matt Soucy.
Dancers: Bellydancing with Nawal Doucette.
Food Vendors: Happiness is Homemade, Kalra Neerja – Indian Food, Perry McCullum & Heather Acker – Lobster Rolls, hot dogs, hamburgers, Makhoul’s Cedars.
Designated Areas: Karate Korner with Joe Hatfield, Butterfly Bisque – children can paint pottery, InterAction Children’s Theatre – children work on putting on a play together, Colouring station for children, Indigo reading circle, Face painting with Cathie Wilson.
Be sure to stop in, it will be a fun day for the entire family.