The Peru Gazette

The second annual Keeseville Community Arts Festival will take place the weekend of July 22-24, with several local organizations and businesses holding visual and performing arts events across the hamlet. The festival brings local residents and visitors together in celebrating the artistic assets of the community.

At the new ‘Arts in the Park’ event on Saturday July 23rd, artists and artisans local to Keeseville will set up alongside the Ausable River in Anderson Falls Park. In addition to selling their artwork, each artist will be actively demonstrating their craft, talking about their work, and answering questions from festival goers. Pottery, jewelry making, graphic arts, woodcrafting, and culinary arts will all be included, as well as performances by local musicians Alice’s Fault and Joanna D’Ascoli.

Youth art activities have been greatly expanded for this year’s festival. Keeseville Free Library will host Children’s Story Morning with Local Authors on Friday, July 22nd. On Saturday, kids can get creative with some free hands-on art activities including an outdoor painting class, face painting, a zine makerspace, and a tie dye workshop. All supplies are provided, but advance sign-up is recommended for outdoor painting and tie dye to ensure space. Sign up at www.Adkaction.org/art

In the days leading up to the festival, 35 plein air artists will paint Keeseville’s historic architecture, rolling hills, charming farms, waterfalls, chasms, and shores in the days leading up to the Festival. Community members will enjoy seeing familiar sights from their own backyards through the eyes of fine artists by visiting the Plein Air Art Show and Sale at 1719 Block Gallery on Front Street. A wine and cheese reception on Friday night and a gallery brunch on Saturday morning will give festival goers a chance to meet the artists in person. Paintings can be purchased from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.

Adirondack Architectural Heritage will hold a two-day Sketching Architecture Workshop where participants will learn how to perfectly capture the details, scale, and special features present in the historic buildings across our region through sketching. Advance registration required at www.AARCH.org

Artistry Community Theatre is performing ‘Cinderella’ at the Keeseville Elks Lodge, and live music will be performed at Keeseville’s Riverfront Park, Ausable Brewing Company, and Highlands Vineyard.

Visitors to the festival can also explore the area to enjoy food, beer, and wine from local farms, and get to know this charming lakeside community at the foothills of the Adirondack mountains. For a complete guide to all arts and community events happening during the festival visit AdkAction.org/Art.