UPDATE: The festival has been postponed until Oct. 11.
Chestnut Hill’s Fall for the Arts Festival, one of the neighborhood’s largest annual events, returns to Germantown Avenue this Sunday with a batch of fresh faces.
More than 300 artists and vendors will set up shop at the outdoor arts destination, featuring paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodwork and more. The free, family-friendly event features live music and entertainment, food and drink vendors, interactive workshops, artist demonstrations and the opportunity to shop from local businesses.
The 42nd annual festival, which attracts thousands of visitors each year, runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., running along Germantown Avenue from Rex Avenue to Willow Grove Avenue. And fear not, Eagles’ fans: The festival date is selected to avoid the game schedule. The Eagles are playing on Monday, Sept. 28.
The rain date is Oct. 11.
Among the highlights will be a makers’ village, showcasing the creative process through live demonstrations, workshops and interactive art experiences that invite festivalgoers to create their own works.
Courtney O’Neill, the Chestnut Hill Business District’s executive director, says this year’s festival includes many more painters than in past years.
“The festival’s really about the community and entertainment and enjoying the arts,” O’Neill said. “We always have a great assortment of local artists and artisans.”
The festival is an opportunity for attendees to celebrate local art and for artists to increase the visibility of their work. There’s a year-round presence of artists on the Hill, from Woodmere and its recently opened Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art & Education, to galleries including NoName Gallery, Gallery on the Avenue, The Little Gallery, Borrelli’s Chestnut Hill Gallery and Gravers Lane Gallery. This year there’s a new neighbor, Maguire Contemporary, which celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 16.
Artists like Jonene Lee, owner of NoName Gallery, are looking forward to engaging with patrons.
“I’m especially excited to meet people who may be curious about collecting art but aren’t sure where to begin,” Lee said.
NoName Gallery has been a part of Chestnut Hill’s artistic culture for four years, showcasing the work of emerging and established artists. The gallery aims to make collecting artwork accessible, without having buyers feel intimidated by the price tag. Lee says she invites everyone to visit the booth.
“Stop by, ask questions, and don’t assume everything is out of your price range,” Lee said. “We’ll have something for both seasoned collectors and people buying their very first piece.”
Featured artist Samara Weaver’s work will be displayed at NoName Gallery’s booth, with pieces from her current exhibition, “The Tides That Bind Us.” Her work combines layered paper and ceramics to explore memory, connection and the rhythms of water.
O’Neill, who is looking forward to visiting the booths of new and returning artists, says one of her favorite parts of the festival is the Best of Show Award. Other competition awards include best of oils/acrylics, watercolors, drawing/illustration/printmaking, sculpture, photography, crafts and pottery. Flourtown’s Pigs Alley Gallery has won Best of Show for the past three years, a $100 prize.
“It’s a small amount of money, but it’s a little stipend to say, congratulations and thank you for coming,” O’Neill said.
The winners are selected by a panel of anonymous judges.
“The judging panel goes around secretly, quietly,” O’Neill said. “They don’t announce themselves, but they walk up and down the festival.”
