In its 41st year, Westerville’s arts festival has been designed to make a relaxing day even easier thanks to expanded trolley hours.
The Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music & Arts Festival is scheduled for July 12 and 13 at Heritage Park and Everal Barn, 60 N. Cleveland Ave.
This year, the festival will feature more than 140 fine artists and crafters along with 14 concessionaires, youth entertainment, youth exhibits, a silent auction and live entertainment on two stages.
More than 18,000 people attended last year’s festival, but organizers emphasize that high attendance numbers don’t automatically lead to parking frustrations. That’s the effect of the free trolleys, provided by OhioHealth, and this year, they’ll be running for the entirety of the festival instead of only part of it.
One trolley will pick up patrons at the Westerville Sports Complex and drop them off at the north end of the grounds. The second will pick up from Graeter’s Ice Cream in Uptown Westerville and drop of
f at the Westerville Senior Center, right around the corner from Heritage Park.
“I would highly encourage community members to visit the stores in Uptown Westerville on Saturday and Sunday morning and then hop on the OhioHealth trolley in front of Graeter’s Ice Cream to attend the festival,” says Erin Glaser, marketing and communications manager for the Chamber.
New food stands will be available, too. They are the Funnel Cake Station, offering sugary and lemon-glazed funnel cakes, and International Foods Inc., with chicken options and seafood dishes.
Children’s entertainment includes interactive drama provided by Candace Mazur-Darman on Saturday and the Magic Nate Show on Sunday. There will be a youth activities tent for kids on both days from noon to 4 p.m.
Live music is also always important, and this year’s range of genres includes R&B, country, jazz, bluegrass and classical.
“We are very excited to present all of our wonderful musical acts,” says Bob Gibson, entertainment chairman. “We have something for everyone, including Matt Keeler of Blues Reveler and his amazing Hurdy Gurdy.”
The festival will run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $1 for adults and free for children 16 and under.
Corinne Murphy is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
By contrast to this year’s 140-plus, the first Westerville Music & Arts Festival, in 1974, had only 50 artists in its line-up.
