Well, I think I've made you all wait quite long enough to hear about how the Fall Festival was this year! (sorry for the almost 2 month hiatus- I literally was in hibernation) It was, of course, fantastic. Everything fell into place beautifully. The activities in the Art Discovery Zone were all free this year. I can't tell you what that means to so many kids and families. Everyone who wanted to create something could, and there was a little of something for everyone! My picture was even in the paper on Saturday, as the GT covered the Festival from set up to take down.
To recap, I'll go with the readers digest version:
Friday-
Arrived at Central Park at 8:00am, set up, lunch at 1pm, left the park at 5pm, got home, finalized Puppet activity; that night 8pm, met at Stash, went back to Central Park for a little Yarn Bombing! - there till 10pm, then down to the Whiteside Theater for the Cherry Poppin Daddies concert (who totally kill it live!) where Greg and I danced the night away until I turned into a pumpkin at 11:45pm.
Saturday-
Back at Central Park at 8:30am to get everything else set up and all activities organized. Meet and greet all activity providers, check in volunteers, etc. Admire beautiful artwork done by our Junior Vendors. Puppets were on Saturday this year, and it was a smash hit! Those puppets were too darn cute, and kids and parents alike had a fabulous time making them. We were down to our last few supplies by the end of the day. The other activities all went great as well. Almost too well. The much beloved Woodblock Sculpture was crazy this year! We were pretty much out of blocks on Saturday which made for some very sad kids on Sunday. By the end of the day everyone was happy and tired. We (the FF committee) were treated to lasagna and salad from Nearly Normals and then took our tired feet home for a soak.
Sunday-
Pick up supplies at 8am from our artist in residence for the Watch-and-Do tent. Bonnie White made paper pulp out of recycled paper and other natural fibers which kids (and parents) turned into ornament seed pods by pouring the pulp over a screen into a cookie cutter. Then they could add seeds and decorate them however they wanted. When the ornament is done being an ornament, they get it a little wet to sprout the seed, and then plant it. Cool huh? Greg was with me all day Sunday and thank goodness for him. We always struggle with finding enough volunteers on Sunday and his help was invaluable. As was Caron's husbands throughout the weekend. It was practically just the 4 of us when it was time to take everything down and pack it all up. We were rock stars and were out of there by 5:45pm. The Art Discovery Zone was once again a major success!
The Fall Festival is Corvallis's best and most beloved art fairs. I am so proud to be a part of it, and so proud to work with two amazing women putting together the Art Discovery Zone. We are a team, and we keep making things better and better. Until next year.........
***I've been holding this post for MONTHS! So, maybe eventually you will get pictures with it, but, I just had to get it up here so I can move on! I mean, it's Christmas now! I officially get the award for the worst consistency for blogging! ;) ***
