The second annual Waveny Park Arts Festival is less than two weeks away.
Presented Oct. 6 in partnership with the New Canaan Parks & Recreation Department, and with support from the Waveny Park Conservancy, the Carriage Barn Arts Center’s festival features a juried collection from fine artists and artisans across a wide range of media. The Carriage Barn is looking to build on a very successful inaugural event, with live music, family activities, refreshments and food trucks and more—including a new “Young Entrepreneurs Marketplace.”
We put some questions to the organization’s executive director, Hilary Wittmann, ahead of the Oct. 6 festival.
Here’s our exchange.
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New Canaanite: What is the origin of the Waveny Park Arts Festival?
Hilary Wittmann: We’ve loved the idea of creating a day of outdoor art, music and entertainment in the park for years, so last year we decided to go for it! We started small and the inaugural Waveny Park Arts Festival last October was a big success. This year we’ve worked with the town and other partners to make it even bigger with 50 artist and artisan vendors, food trucks, and live entertainment from 10am-4pm.
What lessons did you take from last year’s inaugural event that you’re applying to the Oct. 6 Arts Festival?
We’re making some changes to the layout and placement of the artist & artisan booths, and we’ve created an onlline directory of the vendors so people can learn more about them before October 6 and come ready to shop!
Give us an idea of the range of artists and artisans who will be exhibiting.
Yes it’s a great mix of mediums, products and styles so there’s really something for everyone! There will be five fine art photographers, a diverse mix of six jewelry designers, and twenty painters ranging from abstract to landscapes, mixed media to three dimensional and more. There will also be artisan-made textiles, glass, hand-poured candles, stationary, paper products and ornaments. There will be a complete range of sizes and price points, so it’s a great place to look for original artwork for your home as well as special one-of-a-kind gifts.
In addition to meeting local artists and exhibitors, and buying their work, what are some of the activities or other features of the Arts Festival that could appeal to local residents and families?
This event really is for everyone — there will be live music throughout the day starting with a high-energy performance by the School of Rock and featuring sets by the New Canaan town band, local singer/songwriters and ending with a great cover band Exit 5 who also performed last year. We’ve invited stilt walkers from Matica Arts, and there will be free family art activities run by a local business Clever & Crafty as well as National Charity League volunteers. Bring a chair or blanket and have a picnic — Taco Tequila and Pizza Vitale food trucks will be there as well as So Fresh Doughnut Co., South Norwalk Ice Cream Co. and Cafe Da Rosa!
What would you say to someone who wasn’t able to attend last year’s Arts Festival?
Don’t miss it! Bring your kids, your parents or invite friends from out of town — it’s the perfect day to show off Waveny Park, support local artists and artisans in our community and have fun! The Waveny Park Conservancy and our neighbors at the Powerhouse Theater will also be showcasing what they do, and the Parks & Recreation Department have helped facilitate many logistics. It’s also the last day of the Carriage Barn’s annual member show, so be sure to visit the gallery as well.
What else, if anything, would you like to say about the event?
A new addition we’re super excited about is that we’ve worked with a few local parents to organize a Young Entrepreneurs Marketplace at the festival. About 15 kids ages 9-17 will be showcasing and sharing their businesses and products. They include Terre Parfumee, Emmie’s Jewelry and More, WB3D Printing, Alex’s Rolled Ice Cream, The Peoples Store, Coastal Collections Decoupage Seashells, The Complete Dangler Hockey Wax, Brown’s Bakes, Create by Grace, Bracelets by the Sea, Mimigurumi, NC Team Tags, Zoe’s Masks, Junie’s Designs, and Silver Sands Candles & Crafts. We’re excited to support their creative endeavors and we hope you will too!